Saturday and Sunday | 11am–4:30pm | Free with General Admission
Weekends bring fun activities for the whole family to the South Street Seaport Museum. Timely hands-on activities and engagement stations for visitors of all ages provide creative opportunities that illuminate history and life at sea while enhancing your visit to the Seaport Museum’s galleries, the tall ship Wavertree, and the lightship Ambrose.
Activities and their locations change each month to highlight various aspects of maritime history, New York City’s beginnings as a port city, or the Museum’s collections and offerings. Engagement stations may be located in the Seaport Museum program space at 207 Water Street, the introduction gallery space inside Schermerhorn Row at 12 Fulton Street, or aboard the tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16. Museum staff will be happy to point you in the direction of the weekend’s activity when you check in.
About Registration
You may participate in the monthly family activity at any time from 11am to 4:30pm on the day of your visit. You do not need to select a time slot. Last admission will be 4:30pm.
Due to the various Museum locations in which family activities may take place, please register for Pay What You Wish General Admission. In addition to participation in the monthly Family Activity, your admission includes access to visit the historic ship Wavertree and exhibitions on view in the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street. Timed tickets to tour the Seaport Museum’s 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16 are available separately.
Guests must check in at the red tent located at the bottom of the Wavertree gangway on Pier 16, or in the introduction galleries at 12 Fulton Street. The Seaport Museum aims to make our facilities accessible to all visitors. Due to the historical nature of our ships and Landmarked buildings, access requirements vary for each location. Please see the specific access details on our Accessibility page.
November 2024: Build a Baggywrinkle
Join the Seaport Museum for an all-ages activity where you get to learn about the common ships’ tool known as a baggywrinkle––a soft covering used to protect sails from damage. You’ll get to see a real example from one of the Seaport Museum’s historic ships, and then learn how to make one!
Traditionally, baggywrinkle is made from unraveled ropes, but on weekends throughout November, you can come aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and learn to make these important tools from scratch using colorful yarn. This fun craft makes for unique maritime-inspired Autumn decoration!
This family activity will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays from November 2 through November 24. Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. The lower decks are accessible via stairs, while the upper deck requires navigating steep ladder-like stairs.
December 2024: Holiday Collages
Inspired by the works on paper of artist Robert Warner (1956–2023) preserved within the collections of the Seaport Museum, the December family activity invites people of all ages to create seasonal collages of their very own.
Whether you choose to create a festive piece inspired by the holiday season or a reflective collage looking back at 2024 as the year comes to a close, let your imagination and creativity lead the way. With a selection of letterpress stamps, materials from Bowne & Co., found objects, and craft supplies at your disposal, you’ll have everything you need to roll up your sleeves and create something unique. Join us this holiday season and bring your artistic vision to life!
This family activity will be offered from November 30 through December 29. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
January 2025: Signal Flag Swags
Throughout the month of January, come let your creativity fly at the Seaport Museum by making your own signal flag swags.
For centuries, flags were the only form of communication between ships at sea, and between ships and the shore. In the 19th century, signaling with special flags developed into a system capable of passing several types of information and relatively elaborate messages. This even became a successful form of communication between crews who didn’t share a common language. Learn more about how sailors communicate using these vibrant flags that feature different patterns, shapes, and colors, while making your own banner that spells out whatever message you like. There will also be opportunities to use your new-found skill by decoding others’ signal flag messages.
This family activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from January 6 through January 28 but may have a special version for the neighborhood Lunar New Year Celebration. Check back for more details. The activity is included with your admission to Wavertree and will be held on the ship’s main deck if the weather is nice, or indoors at 207 Water Street on cooler days. Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
Want to learn more about Maritime Flags? Check out our See the Flying Colors blog post for more information and history about flags and how the Seaport Museum cares for the flags in its collection.
February 2025: Valentine Like a Sailor
Bring 19th century maritime craft tradition to your handmade valentine with the Seaport Museum! While you create your own special trinket for the holiday, learn about the unique history of Sailors’ Valentines—tokens of love and friendship.
Historically, these small wooden boxes were given by seafarers to their wives, sweethearts, daughters, and loved ones when they returned from a long voyage. The small boxes open to reveal sentimental messages surrounded with intricate mosaics of shells and found objects arranged in exquisite geometric patterns and motifs such as hearts, anchors, and flowers.
Using beads, buttons, and shells, families and friends of all ages are invited to the Seaport Museum where we’ll continue the tradition together. Supplies are available on a first-come first-served basis, and space is limited.
This family activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from February 1 through February 23 but may not be offered during the neighborhood Lunar New Year Celebration. Check back for more details. The activity is included with your admission to Wavertree and will be held indoors at 207 Water Street. Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
Want to learn more about Sailors’ Valentines? Sailors’ Valentines were popular mementos for sailors aboard navy and whaling ships from 1830–1880 and are relatively rare today. For more information on the history and influence on contemporary arts, read the Collections Chronicles blog post, Rethinking Sailors’ Valentines.
March 2025: Her-story in Motion
March is Women’s History Month and the Seaport Museum is celebrating with visitors of all ages by sharing the her-story of notable women from around the South Street Seaport Historic District and inviting you to create your own movable craft inspired by these women. Materials will be available for you to read about the lives of several women and then bring them to life by coloring and assembling your own paper doll.
A few of the women featured in this activity are Emily Roebling, who assumed chief engineering duties for the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge; Kate Walker, the devoted keeper of Robbins Reef Lighthouse for over 30 years; and Maritcha Rémond Lyons, an educator and civil rights activist who testified for her right to education and became the first Black student to graduate from Providence High School, among others!
This family activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from March 1 through March 30 except for during the weekend neighborhood Holi Celebration on March 15 and March 16. The activity is included with your admission to Wavertree and will be held indoors at 207 Water Street. Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
South Street Seaport Museum
By subway: Take the A, C, 2, 3, J, Z, 4, or 5 train to Fulton Street.
By bus: Take the M-15 SBS or M-15 to Fulton Street.
By water: The NYC Ferry, and New York Waterway provide service to Pier 11. The Staten Island Ferry provides services to Whitehall Terminal.
Parking: Parking lots can be found at Front and John Streets, as well as 294 Pearl Street.