The Ships at South Street Seaport Museum

Seaport Museum volunteers have been instrumental throughout this Spring in getting our fleet of historic ships ready for the sailing season. On Pioneer, volunteers have restored the decks, rigging, booms, and gaffs with new coats of paint and varnish. On W.O. Decker, volunteers restored the bow fender and recoated the waterways with paint and oil. Across both ships, new equipment has been installed, and engines and electrical systems have all received a tune up.

And though the public sailing season is still a week away, volunteers in the Sail Training Program have already been out on the New York Harbor, learning traditional sailing techniques through hands-on training sails. They have also had the chance to support our paid crew and fill essential roles aboard educational field trips on the water for hundreds of NYC students.

Our volunteers come from across New York City and the tri-state area and have a wide range of skills, experiences, and interests. Through volunteer initiatives like these, the Seaport Museum is able to steward our historic vessels, while also teaching new generations sailing’s traditions and history.

Interested in getting involved? Learn more about all current volunteer opportunities at seaportmuseum.org/volunteer

The New Year welcomes back volunteers of all skill levels to the Seaport Museum, with projects new and ongoing on the waterfront and in the office most Tuesdays and Saturdays.

In the past few weeks, volunteers applied carpentry and woodworking to continue restoring the daymen’s cabin on Wavertree, digitized documents for the Museum archives, worked on repairing the engine of Ambrose and inspected the rigging blocks for Pioneer. During the coming months, volunteers will transition to indoor restoration projects to get a break from the cooler Winter weather and will also focus their efforts on getting the Museum’s operational vessels ready for the 2024 sailing season.

Interested in getting involved? Visit seaportmuseum.org/volunteer

The Seaport Museum’s monthly celebration of Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music returns on Sunday, December 3, from 2–4pm ET, in the hybrid format: in-person at the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries, and virtually via Zoom. Sign up to join the fun at seaportmuseum.org/chanteysing

Hybrid Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music - South Street Seaport Museum Singers of all levels, as well as listeners, are welcome to join the free Chantey Sing in-person or through Zoom.

The Seaport Museum is looking for new volunteers to help with ship maintenance and special restoration projects this Winter.

Since its founding, the Seaport Museum has been supported by a vibrant team of volunteers. Today, the volunteer crew works outdoors to restore and maintain the fleet of historic vessels using traditional maritime skills while enjoying the unique atmosphere of a busy waterfront that makes the South Street Seaport Historic District so special. Throughout the Fall and Winter, you can join the volunteer crew to become a vital part of the Museum’s projects as well as preparing the 1885 schooner Pioneer for the 2024 sailing season.

Now is a great time to get involved and see if volunteering at the Seaport Museum is a good fit for you! Though the Museum welcomes those with specialized skills like carpentry, metalworking, electrical, and rigging, training is provided to all volunteers, so just come with a willingness to learn and be part of a team.

Please visit seaportmuseum.org/volunteer for more info on how to get involved.

From November through April, the Seaport Museum is offering you the opportunity to join the Hybrid Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music program from anywhere!

Throughout the cooler months, you are invited to join the lively chantey experience either in-person at the Seaport Museum’s introduction galleries at 12 Fulton Street, or virtually via Zoom. Sings take place the first Sunday of each month, 2–4pm ET, and will be hosted by a local artist who will lead the sea-song sing-along featuring a variety of traditional maritime work songs and ballads.

Throughout the event, both in-person and virtual attendees are welcome to take the stage for this round-robin where you can sing and share the chantey of your choice. Singers of all levels, as well as listeners, are welcome to participate in this free event. You can lead or request a song during the round-robin or simply listen.

Advanced in-person registration to join the event in the Museum’s introduction galleries, is encouraged for this event but walkups will be accommodated as possible. For all Zoom attendees, advanced registration is required.

Claim your space at seaportmuseum.org/hybrid-chantey-sing

Hybrid Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music - South Street Seaport Museum Singers of all levels, as well as listeners, are welcome to join the free Chantey Sing in-person or through Zoom.

Join the Seaport Museum this Sunday, October 1, at 2pm, for the last 2023 Chantey Sing that will gather on the deck of the 1885 tall ship Wavertree before we move the program indoors for the colder months.

Singers of all levels, as well as listeners, are welcome to attend and can lead or request a traditional maritime work song or ballad. The program will offer a round-robin where anyone can sing and share the chantey of their choice, join in the choruses throughout the event, or just listen in.

This in-person event is free, and registration is encouraged. Get your ticket today at seaportmuseum.org/chanteysing

Photo credit Richard Mitchell

Sea Chanteys and Maritime Music - South Street Seaport Museum Singers of all levels, as well as listeners, are welcome to join in the choruses throughout the free Chantey Sing, lead or request a song in the round-robin, or just listen.

The Seaport Museum has nearly 200 active volunteers who help keep our historic ships operating beautifully.

In the past few weeks, Ship Maintenance and Restoration workdays have included sanding and scraping off old layers of oil and paint aboard Pioneer, W.O. Decker, and Wavertree and prepping the vessels for fresh new coats of paint.

On Ambrose, volunteers have been working to reassemble her diesel engine. A big shout out to the Restoration Club at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - USMMA for their contribution to that project. Now that the sailing season has begun, volunteers have also been tuning up the steering gear for our Pioneer and Decker and making improvements throughout Pier 16.

Thank you to everyone who has come down to the waterfront so far this season! Learn more about how you can join the Museum’s volunteer community at seaportmuseum.org/volunteer

A lot of work goes into keeping the South Street Seaport Museum’s fleet of historic ships in good shape. A huge part of that effort is coordinated with our volunteer community on the waterfront. The past few weeks volunteers have helped repaint the deck of Wavertree, cleaned and organized the Museum’s work barge , worked on keeping Ambrose visitor-ready, and prepared Pioneer for the public sailing season, which will launch in less than two weeks, on May 24! Without Ship Restoration and Maintenance volunteers who work side-by-side with staff on the waterfront at Pier 16, the Seaport Museum wouldn’t be the institution we are today!

Pioneer also offers opportunities for Volunteer Sailing Crew members to learn traditional maritime skills and help sail her. For participants, the Volunteer Program provides opportunities for personal growth, including gaining new skills and increasing professional development. Learn more about joining the Museum’s volunteer community at seaportmuseum.org/volunteer.

Sailing tickets are now on sale for May 24 to October 1! Get your tickets to the ultimate New York City adventure aboard the Seaport Museum's historic vessels for an experience like no other. You'll have the chance to soak in the stunning sights of the city skyline while cruising through New York Harbor on the Museum’s National Register-listed vessels––the 1885 schooner Pioneer and the 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker.

Experience the thrill of sailing on Pioneer or take a one-of-a-kind ride on the last surviving wooden tugboat built in New York City, W.O. Decker. Whether you choose to enjoy a daytime sail, take in the breathtaking views of NYC and the Statue of Liberty at sunset, or cruise the city’s waterways on the “Tugboat of the Year,” these must-do adventures for locals and visitors alike offer a unique and unforgettable way to see the Big Apple's iconic landmarks.

Book your tickets now and embark on a journey you'll never forget. It's time to set sail and make memories that will last a lifetime. Get your tickets at seaportmuseum.org/sailnyharbor.

Photo credit Richard Bowditch

Wondering where Pioneer might be? The Seaport Museum’s 1885 schooner Pioneer just arrived in Albany, NY for a routine inspection and maintenance in preparation for the sailing season. Check out these great photos sent by our crew from the shipyard.

In addition to opportunities to sail New York harbor on this historic vessel, the Museum also recruits volunteers to join the sailing crew as part of a robust Sail Training Program that teaches people of all skill levels how to crew aboard this historic ship. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience New York Harbor from a completely different perspective while learning traditional maritime skills. The Seaport Museum is recruiting for the 2023 season; learn more at seaportmuseum.org/volunteer.

Sailing season is on the horizon, and Museum volunteers are already starting to prepare Pioneer by taking down her entire rig and inspecting it. Wooden spars are getting new coats of paint and varnish. The blocks and pulleys for the rigging are being inspected, cleaned, and repaired if needed. It is a process that requires a lot of hands and time, and we are grateful for our crew and volunteers who accomplish this every winter. Interested in learning how to sail a historic ship? Keep an eye out for upcoming volunteer opportunities!

To learn more about volunteering at the South Street Seaport Museum, visit seaportmuseum.org/volunteer

We’re pleased to announce that Capt. Jonathan Boulware, President & CEO of the Seaport Museum, was honored with Tall Ships America - Adventure and Education Under Sail’s prestigious Leadership Award at the 50th Annual Conference on Sail Training and Tall Ships last week in Newport, RI.

The Leadership Award, given annually to an individual nominated by peers, was presented to Capt. Boulware, in part, for his vision “in making historical and traditional nautical folkways accessible to the broader public,” his “successful piloting of South Street through the height of the pandemic,” and his “impressive resolve and resourcefulness” in “enhancing the relevance, success, and cohesiveness of the museum.”

Founded in 1973, Tall Ships America is a leading non-profit organization that supports and promotes the ships, people, and programs of sail training and tall ships through relationships with government and regulatory agencies, advocacy, professional development, events, scholarships and grants, and the biannual publication of the world’s definitive directory of sail training.

A passionate advocate for experiential learning and a tireless champion of the South Street Seaport Museum, Capt. Boulware has nearly thirty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and historic ships and still maintains a USCG license as captain of vessels of 500 tons upon oceans.

In recognition of the achievements of the 2023 award winners, Tall Ships America shared that they “are continually astounded and inspired by our members who share their passion for tall ships and sail training every day.” Join us in congratulating Jonathan in the comments!

Photo courtesy of Tall Ships America