The South Street Seaport Museum tells the story of how New York’s great natural harbor gave rise to the metropolis we know today. From Lenape villages, to the early Dutch settlements of New Amsterdam, to the growing city of New York, the story of this land through time is the story of the waterfront. Practice your map skills and walk our history!
See below for available programs.
New Amsterdam Walking Tour
90 minutes | Grades 2-12 | $175
Take a walk back in time to the colonial outpost that became New York City. Walking the streets of Lower Manhattan, students discover traces of Dutch colonial life in our modern city through images, documents, artifacts, archeologic finds, and the street plan itself.
African-Americans in Early New York City
90 minutes | Grades 4-12 | $175
People think of slavery as existing in the South, but did you know that in Colonial New York, almost half the white families owned enslaved people of African descent? Take a walk back in time with maps, documents, and images, and walk the sites that tell how lower New York and the seaport were central to African enslavement and the road to freedom, and how Africans helped shape our city.
Seaport Stories: Tales of a Community
90 minutes | Grades 2-12 | $175
Ships from all over the world, businesses of all kinds, and communities of people of all backgrounds, all worked together to build New York. Historic images, documents, artifacts, a working print shop, and clues in the buildings themselves all tell their story to the observant student.
The Revolutionary War in New York City
90 minutes | Grades 4-12 | $175
The streets and sites of Lower Manhattan tell the story of New York during the Revolution—the ships and seaport that were the center of trade and taxation disputes, the buildings and street corners where futures were debated and history made, and green where the statue of King George was raised and then toppled. Images, documents, artifacts, streets, and buildings all help tell the story of this era.
The Civil War in New York City
90 minutes | Grades 4-12 | $175
New York had a complicated relationship with the South. Much of the economy was tied to Southern crops farmed by slave labor, and the outbreak of the Civil War meant big changes for rich and poor alike. Explore the financial district while analyzing primary sources to see how trade and commerce affected New York’s relationship with the South, and how New Yorkers reacted to the war.
All programs are designed for groups of up to 34 students (40 people maximum including chaperones), but we do not recommend combining small classes into a big group. All walks are 90 minutes long, not including additional time (10-20 minutes) to walk back to the starting point on your own.
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.
Reservations and advance payment required. Limited scholarships are available.
To book a program, or for more information please email education@seany.org or call (212)-748-8568
