Timed Guided Tours | Saturday and Sunday | 11:30am–3:30pm | Pier 16 | Pay What You Wish
As you walk multiple decks of this National Historic Landmark you will see the living and working spaces once inhabited by sailors stationed on 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.
About Tour Registration
Timed tours of the lightship Ambrose are Pay What You Wish. Tours are led multiple times per day and last approximately 45 minutes. You will need to select the time slot of your tour when you reserve your ticket. If you don’t see tickets available for a specific time, that tour has reached capacity. If a tour lacks registrants 24 hours before its scheduled time, it may be canceled. To ensure a tour is available at your preferred time, please sign up for that time slot in advance to guarantee your space. Advance registration to guarantee your space is encouraged. Walkups can be accommodated as space allows.
In addition to visiting the historic lightship, your admission also includes access exhibitions on view in the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street.
Advance timed tickets to view the Museum’s forthcoming three-floor exhibition Maritime City in A.A. Thomson & Co. located at 213 Water Street, and access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16 are available separately.
Guests must check in at the introduction galleries at 12 Fulton Street at least 10 minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin, or at red tent located at the bottom of the Wavertree gangway on Pier 16 when the weather is warm. Please note that storage space is not available on board Ambrose. Strollers can be parked at the base of the Wavertree gangway before your tour. Access to Ambrose requires walking up an angled gangway and up and down stairs to each deck while on board.
We look forward to sharing this piece of New York history with you. Book your Ambrose and General Admission tickets below.
About the 1908 Lightship Ambrose
Lightship LV-87, also known as Ambrose, was built in 1907 as a floating lighthouse to guide ships safely from the Atlantic Ocean into the Lower New York Bay. Occupying her station from 1908–1932, she guided mariners to the nation’s busiest port, and welcomed over six million immigrants into New York Harbor.
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.