South Street Seaport

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A view of the South Street Seaport in New York with the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges.

South Street Seaport

South Street Seaport is a historic area of New York City, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is usually considered a historical district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings from the early 19th century, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of Brooklyn Bridge.

South Street Seaport Museum was founded in 1967 by Peter and Norma Stanford. When originally opened as a museum the focus of the Seaport Museum conservation was to be an educational historic site, with "shops" mostly operating as reproductions of working environments found during the Seaport's heyday — 1820 to 1860.

Part of Schermerhorn Row, early 19th c. mercantile buildings

The oiginal intent of the Seaport development was the preservation of the block of buildings known as [Schermerhorn Row] which were threatened with destruction from neglect or future development, at a time when the history of New York City's sailing ship industry was not valued, except by some antiquarians. Early historic preservation efforts focused on these buildings and the acquisition of several sailing ships. The buildings on Fulton Street were across from the main Fulton Fish Market building, which had become a large plain garage-type structure, and has now been rebuilt as an upscale shopping mall.

Almost all buildings and the entire Seaport neighborhood are meant to transport the visitor back in time to New York's mid-1800's, to demonstrate what life in the commercial maritime trade was like. Docked at the Seaport are a few historical sailing vessels, including the Flying P-Liner, Peking and museum ships. A section of nearby Fulton Street is preserved as cobblestone and lined with shops, bars, and restaurants.

In 1982, redevelopment began to turn the museum into a greater tourist attraction via development of modern shopping areas. The pier's old platforms were demolished and a new glass shopping pavilion raised in its place, which opened in August 1983.

Sunset viewed from Pier 17

The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center. Built on Pier 17 on the East River, visitors are offered shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights. The actual seaport and commercial fish market is in the process of being moved to The Bronx

References


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