The SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM offers a collection of ships, such as the Ambrose Lightship (above), at a site which was once the country's leading port. The Ambrose was built in 1908 and used to
guide ships “from the Atlantic Ocean into the broad mouth of lower New York Bay
between Coney Island, New
York and Sandy Hook,
New Jersey – an area filled with
sand bars and shoals invisible to approaching vessels.” The Museum is a 12-square block historic
district of 18th & 19th century buildings and
cobblestone streets with incredible views of New York
harbor and the Brooklyn
Bridge. Its mission is to trace the history of the Port
of New York and its commercial and
cultural impact on New York City,
New York state, and the nation.
At one time, both New York City and New York State had large ship building companies.
Current plans call for new development at the Museum with the an open park-like space, a new high-rise hotel and the addition of two food markets.
