South Street Seaport or the Seaport, is a historic neighborhood in downtown Manhattan, right next to the Financial District, on meeting point of Fulton Street and the East River. Its purpose is to give its visitors a glimpse of commercial maritime life during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Basic Information
Date of trip: 04/26/2022
Location: Fulton & Water Streets New York 10038
Getting there:
- Car: enter 89 South Street, New York, NY 10038 in GPS
- Subway: A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Fulton Street or E train to Chambers Street-World Trace Center
- Bus: M15, QM11, QM25, or X15 to Water Street and John Street or X8, X14, QM7, QM8, BM1, BM2, BM3, MB4 to Water Street and Maiden Lane
- Ferry: NYC Ferry Pier 11/Wall Street stop
- Path: World Trade Center stop
Fun Facts
The Seaport was an active commercial port for the Dutch West India Company in the 17th century that served the economy of New York City. Ships that operated during that time are still docked at the Seaport as part of the South Street Seaport Museum. You can take a free tour of the Wavertree cargo ship that was built in 1885.
The buildings located at #2 – #18 Fulton Street, known as Schermerhorn Row, constructed in 1811 – 1812, were also preserved and designated as landmarks. A section of Fulton Street is still lined with cobblestone.
The Fulton Fish Market, which opened in 1822 in the South Street Seaport, was one of the busiest and most important wholesale fish markets in the country. In 2005, it relocated to a new location in Hunts Point in the Bronx. The Tin Building that was within the market is now designated as a landmark.
The Seaport is also home to one of the oldest bars in New York City, the Bridge Cafe, opened in 1794 and closed due to hurricane Sandy. It also houses the oldest business that still operates under the same name, Bowne & Co., Inc, established in 1775. Bowne & Co., Inc. was a printing company for shipping, trade, and financial documents. To this day, it continues to service clients that need small-batch printing jobs, including notecards, posters, and stationary.
Pearl Street, originally know by the Dutch as Parelstraat, was one of the first and busiest streets in the area, named for the large quantities of oysters found in the river and the large piles of discarded oyster shells found on the pavement.
The Pier 17 Mall, operated from 1985 – 2013, was demolished and replaced by a 300,000 square-foot building in 2018, which includes shopping, dining, and a roof deck for entertainment venues.
Currently, the Seaport is home to numerous shops, restaurants, services, galleries, exhibitions, events, and entertainment. Decks outside the pier offer spectacular view of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights.
Our Impressions
This was a fun, beautiful spring day for a day trip in Manhattan. I have a lot of fond memories of the Seaport. I went to college in downtown Manhattan and my first and second full-time job post college were based there, as well, so it was one of my favorite lunch break destinations. I have been working in midtown Manhattan since 2009 so I haven’t been there much since then. Although rebuilt after the damage sustained during Hurricane Sandy, much of the Seaport looks quite the same.
We toured the Wavertree ship and learned some interesting facts about life on the boat in the late 1800s.
We also explored the new Pier 17 Mall building, relaxed on the deck of the Pier, and enjoyed the gorgeous views. It was a wonderful spring day, very well spent!
