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Top 10 Interesting Facts about South Street Seaport

Located in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, the South Street Seaport borders John Street, Dover Street, Pearl Street, and the East River. The Seaport offers a wealth of New York’s maritime history. Dating back to the late 1700s, what started as a small collection of wharves has now become one of the most essential commercial ports across the globe.

Years ago, the Seaport district once served as Manhattan’s main center for business and trade. Under the revitalization project, the area is once more becoming Lower Manhattan’s business anchor. Today, you can enjoy a walk on the cobblestone streets, take in the view of the East River, shop or come close to the brick buildings that have been a part of history since the 19^th Century.

Read on for ten exciting facts about South Street Seaport.

1. Victims of the Titanic have a memorial structure outside the Seaport Museum

A Lighthouse structure near South Street Seaport Museum. Photo by Andy C/

In 1912, the Titanic, a luxurious ship was on its way to New York City when it sank in the Atlantic Ocean. To commemorate this event, a monument was erected outside the Seaport Museum.

The monument was a 60-foot lighthouse and time ball built-in memory of the victims of the Titanic. The lighthouse was dedicated on 15 April 1913, a year after the Titanic sank.

2. Unique shopping experience where you can purchase goods and enjoy a drink

Looking east across Peck Slip at the schoolhouse. Photo by Jim Henderson/

One of the places to visit while at the Seaport district is a little hidden bodega that has a bar at the back. The owners of the shop wanted to create a comfortable environment where you can purchase a few items and enjoy a drink in a quiet place that feels like home.

Aiming to make the bar inclusive, the owners serve food and drink that represent the various cultures in the community.

3. Visit the inside of a ship and interact with rich maritime history

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) Afloat Lab, YP-679, also known as Starfish, is docked at the South Street Seaport’s Pier 17 during the 18th annual Fleet Week in New York City. Fleet Week allows the community to celebrate the sacrifices made by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard U.S. Navy Photograph by Senior Chief Journalist John F. Williams/Wikimedia Commons

Visit the Seaport Museum and interact with a cargo ship that was built in 1885. Known as the Wavertree, the ship first arrived in New York City in 1895.

The remnants of this ship which were acquired in 1968 are now part of the Seaport Museum. At a cost of USD 13 million and after a 16-month period of restoration, the ship was ready for public access in 2016.

Now moored at Pier 16, your visit to the Seaport museum allows you a tour of the ship. Among the sites to see are the Wavertree’s galley, captain’s saloon, and the ‘Cathedral’ which was previously used to hold the ship’s cargo.

4. Create your own print design using a letterpress that has been operating for more than 200 years

South Street Seaport Museum, Water Street. Photo by Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C./

One of the oldest operating businesses at the Seaport is a printing company known as Bowne & Co. Established by Robert Bowne in 1775 the company and the Seaport Museum partnered in 1975.

The print shop features a 19th-century-style letterpress which is still in use. Visit the shop and create your own unique designs using historic fonts that have been in use for more than 2 centuries.

5. The Pearl Street name is from an abundance of oysters in New York

Fish dealers and the Meyers Hotel in a row of buildings along South Street. Photo by Berenice Abbott/

One of the theories on the naming of Pearl Street is that the Dutch arrived and found a large pile of oyster shells on the street. The Lenape people who were the natives of the region ate the oysters and disposed of the shells on the streets.

It is believed that the Dutch used the crushed oyster shells to pave the roads. Previously known as Parelstraat by the Dutch, the street was later renamed Pearl Street by the English in 1794.

6. South Street Seaport previously had a mall at Pier 17

Looking northeast at Pier 17 first floor escalator bank. Photo by Jim Henderson/

The new Pier 17 building stands where the Benjamin Thompson & Associates designed Pier 17 Mall first stood. The mall had become a tourist attraction but was greatly affected by Hurricane Sandy and was shut down thereafter.

One of the new features of the new Pier 17 building is the rooftop which offers public spaces and entertainment.

7. Landmark buildings are being moved or reconstructed

Looking east across Fulton Street. Photo by Jim Henderson/

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the United States’ largest municipal preservation agency. Its mandate is to protect the city’s culturally, historically, and architecturally significant buildings and sites.

Among the buildings that have been landmarked in Seaport is the Tin Building which was built in 1907. Although the Tin Building had been rebuilt after it was razed by a fire in 2016, the LPC approved plans to rebuild it a second time and move it thirty feet from its original location.

Another LPC-approved building is the Hamilton Grange. The Grange is the former home of US founding father Alexander Hamilton. The original structure was made of corrugated iron sheets and wood.

Ninety-two pieces of the original structure will be used in rebuilding the new architect-designed replica.

8. South Street Seaport is home to the oldest Bar in New York City

A photochrom postcard published by the Detroit Photographic Company circa 1899-1924. Photo by Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University/

The Bridge Café which is located at 279 Water Street is said to be one of the oldest bars in New York City. The only wood-framed building in the Seaport District is said to date back to 1974.

The LPC however, dates the building to 1801. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused the building to shut down for repairs. It did not reopen after that.

9. During summer you can rent a lawn on the rooftop

Looking southwest at the newly renovated Pier 17. Photo by Jim Henderson/

During summer, you can rent a lawn atop the Pier 17 rooftop. The green spaces which are fourteen feet by fourteen feet began during the 2020 lockdown to allow people to spend time outdoors.

The space which can fit up to eight people is equipped with a sun umbrella, an in-built yeti Yeti cooler, lounge chairs, and a USB charging port. The rooftop also has bigger gaming lawns for active people.

These are twelve by forty-eight feet in size and offer supplies for you to play games such as giant Jenga, ladder ball, and bocce ball among others. During winter the lawns are converted into enclosed cabins.

10. It’s One of the Few Places to See Belgian Block in NYC

Looking east across Peck Slip at the schoolhouse. Photo by Jim Henderson/

According to the 2017 Historic Districts Council’s study, the council estimates that there are only fifteen miles of original Belgian blocks streets across the city. The Belgian blocks, also known as cobblestone, date back to the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

These blocks which are granite, resilient and smooth can now be found in a handful of historic districts. These districts include SoHo, Fulton Ferry, South Street Seaport, and Tribeca.