Conducting research is an important aspect of the Seaport Museum’s work and directly supports the mission to preserve and interpret the origins and growth of New York City.
The Museum is actively engaged in a complete inventory of all its collections and archives. This ongoing project will improve future public access to the materials in our care and ensure that items are preserved for future generations.
Please Note
Research requests are on pause for the remainder of 2024. The Museum is in the final stages of preparing for the opening of Maritime City, the forthcoming exhibition at the Seaport Museum will begin in March 2025, and span the first three floors of the A.A. Thomson & Co. building.
Your research matters; your request has been entered into the queue, and we will be in touch towards the beginning of 2025. If your inquiry is tied to New York City history, and of an urgent matter, contact the New York Public Library, the New York City Municipal Archives, or New York Historical Society.
Research Inquiries
Research requests are handled in the order in which they are received. If there is a large volume of requests at a given moment, it may take a minimum of 10 business days for a response.
Seaport Museum members at the Dual level and higher are entitled to a discount on all research fees.
Image Services
Access to Museum images may be requested for personal, scholarly, or commercial purposes. The most efficient way to submit requests for high-resolution images is through the Museum’s Collections Online Portal.
Requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Staff make every effort to respond promptly, but please allow up to 10 business days for a response. A request to use or have access to an image does not guarantee such use or access. The Museum reserves all rights in granting and revoking permissions in regards to images.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the South Street Seaport Museum, in which case the customer is responsible for securing permission from those parties.
Digital images for lecture, publication, exhibition, public space, films, or web/blog/digital use are subject to reproduction and licensing fees. Please contact the Collections and Archives Department for more information at collections@seany.org.
Public Access to the Collections
In-person access to collections and archives of the Seaport Museum is granted on a case by case basis at the discretion of the Director of Collections and Exhibitions.
Requests will be approved or denied after careful review of the following criteria:
- Support of the Museum’s mission
- Availability of staff and Museum spaces
- Physical condition of the objects requested
- Availability and accessibility of the requested objects
- Number of objects requested
Furthermore, the Director of Collections and Exhibitions, in consultation with the Archives and Special Collections Specialist and the Associate Registrar will determine whether outside individuals will be allowed to handle objects. Handling of objects will be directly supervised by a designated collections staff member.
Research fees depend on the nature of the request. A cost estimate can be provided once a research request is submitted. Click below to inquire.
Learn More About the Collections
About the Collections
The collections and archives of the South Street Seaport Museum document the rise of New York as a port city, and its role in the development of the economy and business of the United States through social and architectural landscapes with over 28,000 works of art and historical artifacts, and over 80,000 archival materials.
Explore the Collections
Through the new and improved Collections Online Portal, you can explore highlights from the various collections within the Museum. Whether items are preserved in storage, displayed in Museum galleries, or on loan to fellow institutions, you can digitally discover some of these special objects in digital format.
Acquisition Guidelines
The Seaport Museum’s Collection Management Policy, last revised in May of 2024, outlines the scope of the Museum’s collection, explains how the museum grows, cares for and makes collections available to the public, and clearly defines the roles of the parties responsible for managing these artifacts.
Collections Chronicles Blog Posts
Read articles written by the Seaport Museum’s Collections and Exhibitions team. These engaging posts share insights about inventory and rehousing projects that staff and interns are working on, research about specific artifacts, and explore other areas of interest surrounding the Museum’s collections.