October | In Person | $7
The annual Open House New York Weekend promotes unparalleled access to the city’s places, people, projects, systems, and ideas that define New York and its future. As part of the 2026 lineup, the Seaport Museum is offering opportunities to get special-access tours of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree.
Tickets will be distributed on a lottery basis by OHNY. Scroll down to learn more about the Museum’s tours and visit the Open House New York website to see the full lineup and to sign up for a tour.
Important Dates
September 18: OHNY Members Lineup Preview
OHNY Members get early access to the Weekend lineup.
September 25: Public Reveal
The full festival lineup is revealed for all locations, activities, dates, and times.
October 2: Ticket Release
Tickets become available. Tickets are $7.
1885 Tall Ship Wavertree Tour
October 18 | 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm | Wavertree | $7
Take a special guided tour of the flagship of the South Street Seaport Museum’s fleet. Walk the length of the vessel’s massive cargo hold, which is not usually open to the public.
Built of riveted wrought iron, the 1885 tall ship Wavertree is an archetype of the sailing ships of the latter half of the 19th century that, during the “age of sail,” lined South Street by the dozens, creating a forest of masts from the Battery to the Brooklyn Bridge.
Visit places around the ship with museum staff and crew that are not typically accessible to the general public. Get a glimpse of how the historic fleet is maintained, see nooks and crannies, and get immersed in history while walking the entire length of Wavertree’s hold.
About Open House New York
Open House New York promotes broad, unparalleled access to the city—to the places, people, projects, systems, and ideas that define New York and its future
About the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree
Wavertree was built at Southampton, England, in 1885 and, after a 24-year sailing career and circumnavigating the globe at least three times, is now the last remaining iron-hulled three-masted full-rigged cargo ship. Today, Wavertree is visited by guests of all ages from around the globe and serves as the centerpiece of the “Street of Ships” at the Seaport Museum. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1978 and symbolizes the profound influence of sailing ships, their intrepid sailors, and the bustling waterfront in shaping New York City into a modern metropolis. As a historic vessel with a fascinating past, Wavertree embodies the rich maritime heritage that played a pivotal role in transforming South Street into the vibrant heart of “Where New York Begins.”
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16 is included with your ticket to this event. Access to the additional historic ships and exhibitions on view is not included. If you would like to explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about General Admission tickets when you check in.
General Admission brings you aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16, and into both 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.
Want to experience even more?
Reserve your tickets for the landmark exhibition The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation. Book in advance and save with a discounted combo ticket that includes both General Admission and The Promise of Liberty.
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.