Remembering Frank Woerner, “Folk Father” & Shanty Singer

I was stunned and saddened to read that shanty singer and folklorist Frank Woerner has died. I haven’t seen an obituary yet, but I came across a Facebook post by Alison Kelley who wrote, “It is with great shock and … Continue reading

The History Behind “Evening Gray Morning Red” — Shiplore NYC January 22nd, Melville Library

If you are in the area next Monday night, January 22nd at 7:30 PM, be sure to stop by the South Street Seaport Museum’s Melville Gallery at 213 Water Street, in lower Manhattan.  I will be presenting “From John Hancock’s … Continue reading

Wavertree — Stepping the Final Mast Before Returning to South Street Seaport

Forty six years ago yesterday, the  full-rigged iron sailing ship Wavertree, arrived in South Street Seaport after being towed from Argentina. The 1889 built windjammer had languished as a sand barge in Argentina for decades, before being purchased and partially restored … Continue reading

Four Hundred Years of Sailing Ships at the South Street Seaport

Last week provided a rare opportunity to glimpse over 400 years of sailing ship history in three ships, tied up almost side by side, at New York’s South Street Seaport. Berthed on the south side of Pier 15, El Galeon Andalucia is a replica of a … Continue reading

l’Hermione at NYC’s South Street Seaport, Open to the Public Thursday

This morning, the replica French frigate l’Hermione arrived in New York harbor and was welcomed  by American and French officials, led by French Minister Ségolène Royal and Mayor of Rochefort Hervé Blanché at Pier 15  at the South Street Seaport on the … Continue reading

A Vision to Save the South Street Seaport

The Howard Hughes Corporation, a real-estate firm based in Dallas, TX, is proposing a $1.5 billion redevelopment of the historic South Street Seaport in New York City. Their plan includes destroying several historic buildings and erecting a controversial 494-foot residential tower … Continue reading

Bjoern Kils & New York Media Boat to the Rescue, Again

On Tuesday, the New York Media Boat‘s 2pm Adventure Sightseeing Tour was interrupted just off South Street Seaport, when the boat captain, Bjoern Kils, spotted three people in the water near Pier 15.  They immediatey went to help.  Bjoern describes what happened next in … Continue reading

The Return of Schooner Lettie G. Howard

Yesterday, while maneuvering our 18′ catboat through the traffic in the Morris Canal on the West bank of the Hudson off Lower Manhattan, we had the pleasure of crossing paths with the schooner Lettie G. Howard. Lettie is an 1893 Fredonia-model fishing schooner owned and … Continue reading

City of Water & Fire – A Day in New York Harbor

Today the  the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance hosted the “City of Water Day” to celebrate New York – New Jersey harbor.  Festivities were centered on Governor’s Island and Liberty State Park with activities spread across the waterfront from Edgewater to Brooklyn and Staten Island.  In addition to … Continue reading

Post Irene Wrap-up: How the Ships & Boats Coped with the Storm

Hurricane Irene has swept past, not as bad as she could have been, but bad enough, nevertheless.  Downgraded to a tropical storm by 9AM this morning, she still caused significant flooding on the East coast, hitting  Philadelphia  particularly hard. The city, situated between the Delaware … Continue reading

Hard Times at Two Seaport Museums – South Street and Independence

New York and Philadelphia are major ports and centers of art and culture.  By all rights both should be home for major and successful seaport museums. Sadly that is not the case. Last month we posted about the Independence Seaport … Continue reading