May 13 | 10am–5pm | Pier 17, North Side | Free
Important Update
Maurice Jester will be unavailable to come to New York as planned. The Coast Guard’s number one mission is saving lives and the cutter and her crew will be working in that mission capacity for an undetermined period of time. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and hope to schedule these tours at the next available opportunity.
The Seaport Museum in collaboration with the Seaport is pleased to host the Sentinel-class fast response cutter Maurice Jester of the United States Coast Guard. Throughout her visit she will be docked at Pier 17 and will offer the opportunities for the public to come aboard.
The vessel is used for a variety of missions including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways, and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The vessel was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Maurice Jester who enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1917, and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer Boatswains Mate by 1936. As the United States entered World War II in 1941, Chief Jester was promoted to Lieutenant and given command of the USCGC Icarus. Only one year later, Lieutenant Jester along with his crew, became the first U.S. ship to capture the crew of a German U-Boat after it’s sinking. For his heroics, Maurice Jester was awarded the Navy Cross and promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his leadership
Tour the vessel with Coast Guard Cadets and learn more about the history of the ship. No registration needed, just stop by during the open hours.
Ready for more?
Head over to our Programs and Events page to see what else is happening at the Museum. Sign up for an upcoming talk, learn more about visiting Wavertree, or explore our virtual offerings.