February 10, 11 | 11am–4:30pm | 207 Water Street | Free
Bring 19th century maritime craft tradition to your handmade valentine with the Seaport Museum! While you create your own special trinket for the holiday, learn about the unique history of Sailors’ Valentines—tokens of love and friendship.
Historically, these small wooden boxes were given by seafarers to their wives, sweethearts, daughters, and loved ones when they returned from a long voyage. The small boxes open to reveal sentimental messages surrounded with intricate mosaics of shells and found objects arranged in exquisite geometric patterns and motifs such as hearts, anchors, and flowers.
Using beads, buttons, and shells, families and friends of all ages are invited to the Seaport Museum where we’ll continue the tradition together. Advanced registration is suggested for this free activity but walk-ups will be accommodated as possible. Supplies are available on a first-come first-served basis, and space is limited.
Please Note This is a Past Program, Event, or Activity
You are viewing an archived page for a program, event, or activity that has already taken place. In most cases these pages are no longer actively maintained and because of that may contain inaccurate or out-of-date information. These pages are left publicly viewable to preserve institutional memory and to allow the public to learn more about the types of programs, activities, and content created and made available by the South Street Seaport Museum throughout its history.
More on Sailors’ Valentines
Sailors’ Valentines were popular mementos for sailors aboard navy and whaling ships from 1830–1880 and are relatively rare today. For more information on the history and influence on contemporary arts, read the Collections Chronicles Blog post, Rethinking Sailors’ Valentines.
Enjoy More That the Museum Offers
Access to the Seaport Museum’s historical ships and introduction galleries is not included with this offering. To extend your visit and see more that the Museum has to offer, ask Museum staff about our Pay What You Wish General Admission tickets when you check in.
Saturday and Sunday, 11am–5pm, get Pay What You Wish General Admission tickets to see more of the Museum. General Admission includes access to all current exhibitions on view in the introduction gallery space at 12 Fulton Street and access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Free timed tickets for a tour of the 1908 lightship Ambrose are available separately at no additional cost
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.