Saturday and Sunday | 11am–4:30pm | Free
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 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 galleries 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 the free activity and admission to ensure you can explore more that the Museum offers. In addition to participation in the monthly Family Activity, admission tickets include access to visit the historic ships Wavertree and Ambrose as well as exhibitions on view in the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located 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.
Book your admission ticket and your desired activity below.
May 2025: Impressive Impressions
This May, dive into the rich history of printing and its deep connections to the Seaport! Inspired by the woodblock printing tools and prints featured in Maritime City, this hands-on weekend activity invites families to create their own illustrative “woodcuts” using styrofoam. Then, bring your design to life by making an impression print—just like traditional block printing techniques!
Design your own unique illustration or choose from pre-made templates provided by the Museum. Before you roll up your sleeves and try your hand at printing, make sure to visit the new exhibition Maritime City as well as Bowne & Co. Stationers to see examples of historical printing, equipment including a printing press, and more!
This activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from May 3 through June 1. The activity was developed for participants ages 5 and up. This will take place indoors at 207 Water Street but may be moved to the cobblestone street in front of the building if the weather is nice. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
June 2025: Cyanotype Printing
Inspired by the Seaport Museum’s impressive collections of glass plate negatives, families who visit the Seaport Museum on weekends throughout June can learn about the history of photography and create cyanotype masterpieces using specially treated paper infused with light-sensitive chemicals.
To enrich your printing experience, visit the new exhibition Maritime City to see examples of historical and contemporary photography in New York City and the Seaport, as well as glass plate negatives in the Thomas W. Kennedy Photograph Collection and George P. Hall & Son Photograph Collection.
This activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from June 7 through June 30. The activity will take place on the cobblestone street in front of 207 Water Street but may be moved indoors in the case of poor weather. Access to 207 Water Street includes walking up and down a few stairs.
July 2025: 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 July, you can come aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and learn to make these important tools from scratch using colorful yarn.
This activity will be offered Saturdays and Sundays from July 5 through July 31. 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.
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.