Dockside Experiences

Visit Our Historic Vessels and Pier 16

The South Street Seaport Museum tells the story of how New York’s great natural harbor gave rise to the metropolis we know today: the story of the ships, the people who sailed them, the cargoes they carried, and the businesses that served them. Dockside programs combine indoor and outdoor hands-on activities to show how the stories and science of the harbor affect how we live. Students experience all this and more, without ever leaving the dock.

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Explorers, Crew and Cargo – Available Now!

90 minutes | Grades K–12   

Board the cargo ship Wavertree and experience the world of transatlantic sailors through hands-on activities.

• Tour the ship from bow to stern.
• Haul on ropes to raise sail without leaving the dock, and walk the capstan ’round.
• Learn how sailors and officers slept, ate, worked, and played.
• Learn about the importance of ships, cargo, and commerce from the time of the European explorers until today.

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Millions: NYC Immigration in the 20th Century – Available Now!

90 minutes | Grades 3–12          

For years, lightship Ambrose stood watch in New York Harbor, marking the entrance for ships to America – including ocean liners like Titanic and Aquitania that once dominated transatlantic travel.  Thousands of people arrived on each voyage: the first-class passengers in the lap of luxury, with the third-class passengers confined to the stuffy lower decks. 

• Tour the lightship Ambrose as well as a Museum gallery.
• Study photos, maps, and artifacts to develop an understanding of immigration in early 20th-century New York.
• Compare the different experiences of first-class and third-class passengers.

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Bridges and Ferries – Available Now!

90 minutes | Grades 1–6            

Five boroughs, three islands! Explore Pier 16 and the Seaport neighborhood to discover how people have connected across the water through the years.

• Observe and analyze bridge and ferry traffic. 
• Use historic images to learn how the Brooklyn Bridge changed New York City. 
• Experiment with bridge construction principles of physics and engineering.

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About our Dockside Vessels

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All programs are designed for groups of up to 34 students (40 people maximum including chaperones). We do not recommend combining small classes into a large group.

All programs are aligned with New York City and State Social Studies and Science Learning Standards. Programs can be customized to meet your curricular goals and the needs of your students.

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