Friday–Sunday | 11am–5pm
Plan your next visit to the South Street Seaport Museum campus today! Your ticket brings you aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, and into all current exhibitions on view in the first-floor Schermerhorn Row galleries at 12 Fulton Street. General Admission also sets you on course to explore Maritime City, the Museum’s immersive, three-floor exhibition at A.A. Thomson & Co., located at 213 Water Street.
General Admission Ticket Pricing
Adults $18
Seniors and Students $15
Children $5
General Admission for Seaport Museum members is always free.
Tickets and Entry
Tickets are available for purchase online and in person. Last entry to all Museum spaces during regular open hours is at 4:30pm. Guests may check in at any of the Museum’s historic buildings or—weather permitting—at the red tent located at the base of the Wavertree gangway on Pier 16.
Guided tours of Wavertree and Ambrose are offered throughout the day and last approximately 45 minutes. Please check with Museum staff upon arrival to join the next available tour. Storage space is not available on board the historic ships; strollers may be parked at the base of the gangway prior to boarding.
Entry to Bowne & Co., Stationers is free Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 5pm, and you do not need an Admission ticket to the Seaport Museum to visit.
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. To assist in planning your visit, please see the specific access details on our Accessibility page.
In the event of extreme or inclement weather, access to the Museum’s historic ships and non-climate-controlled spaces may be limited. To confirm what will be available during your visit, or if you have specific questions regarding accessibility, we encourage you to contact the Museum in advance.
Visit the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree
Friday–Sunday | 11am–5pm | Pier 16
Tour this National Register-listed vessel that represents the thousands of ships that docked along New York’s waterfront over the centuries. Come aboard to see how people worked and lived aboard a 19th century cargo sailing ship—from the captain to the ship’s officers, cooks, and crew. In the care of the South Street Seaport Museum, the 1885 tall ship Wavertree has been meticulously restored and has been carefully curated to help tell the story of the rise of New York City as a global metropolis.
On your visit, you will explore the main deck that features the restored forecastle, where the crew bunked; the galley, where meals were prepared; the saloon, which acted as the captain’s living room and the ship’s office in port; and the quarterdeck, where you can man the helm, turn the ship’s wheel, and learn about the capstan. You will also get a look into the vast cargo hold, which stored bulk cargo on Wavertree’s many journeys to distant ports around the globe during her 24-year sailing career.
Take a Guided Tour of the 1908 Lightship Ambrose
Friday–Sunday | 11:30am–3:30pm | Pier 16
As you walk multiple decks of this National Historic Landmark you will see the living and working spaces once inhabited by sailors stationed on the 1908 lightship Ambrose, as well as the special features that allow the ship to fulfill its mission of staying on station, being seen, and being heard. This ship was the first vessel to join the Seaport Museum’s fleet and the very first lightship to guard the largest shipping channel in and out of the ports of New York and New Jersey—the Ambrose Channel.
On your guided tour you will learn how Ambrose played a significant role in the immigrant experience and hear how countless waves of immigrants brought with them diverse cultures, traditions, and skills that interwove to form the rich tapestry of the city’s identity.
Explore the Maritime City Exhibition
Friday–Sunday | 11am–5pm | 213 Water Street
The Seaport Museum’s exhibition Maritime City highlights how New York City, as we know it today, arose from the sea. Throughout the extensive three-floor exhibition, 540 deliberately-selected objects from the collections and archives of the Seaport Museum are on view to underscore how the city’s identity as a global capital of culture and finance is rooted in its origins as a seaport.
As you walk through the exhibition you will discover how the waterways, people, and industries of the Greater New York area—including all the boroughs, Long Island, and the Lower Hudson Valley—led to the creation of a truly diverse city. By sharing the material culture of New York and its people, the objects on display highlight stories of the working class people employed by ships, shipping lines, and other local industries throughout history, as well as the emigrant workers and immigrant families that came through the port as their first stop in America.
See Exhibitions in the First-Floor Schermerhorn Row Galleries
Friday–Sunday | 11am–5pm | 12 Fulton Street
General Admission to the Seaport Museum includes access to two current exhibitions on view in the first-floor gallery space inside Schermerhorn Row. Exhibitions draw from the Museum’s vast collection via large-scale reproductions and selected artifacts on display.
South Street And The Rise Of New York explores the critical role played by the Seaport and South Street in securing New York’s place as America’s largest city and its rise to become the world’s busiest port by the start of the 20th century.
Millions: Migrants And Millionaires Aboard The Great Liners, 1900–1914 examines the dichotomy between First Class and Third Class passengers aboard ocean liners in the early 20th century.
Visit Bowne & Co. Stationers
Wednesday–Sunday | 11am–5pm | 211 Water Street | Free
No visit to the South Street Seaport Museum is complete without a stop at Bowne & Co., Stationers, the 19th century-style letterpress print shop at the South Street Seaport Museum.
When you visit the gift emporium and letterpress print shop, you will see how Bowne & Co. continues the tradition of letterpress printing and captures the essence of a turn-of-the-century store using the Museum’s collection of historical equipment. Visit today to immerse yourself in the historical charm and legacy, as this shop weaves together New York’s maritime and printing heritage.
Stop by to browse the carefully-curated selection of unique wares including books, candles, home decor, stationery, oddities, as well as house-designed and -printed paper goods. While you explore the shop, make sure to take a look at the historical printing presses and speak to our friendly and knowledgeable resident printers.
Enjoy More That Bowne & Co. Offers
Want to expand your visit to Bowne & Co. and learn more about the history of printing? Through monthly and seasonal workshops and open houses, you are invited to roll up your sleeves and learn about letterpress printing. Each month, the designers at Bowne & Co. welcome the public into the shop to share the history of printing and let attendees use the historical equipment from the Museum’s working collection. Advance registration is encouraged for workshops and open houses.
Want to learn more about General Admission tickets? Visit the FAQ page for more details.
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.