The South Street Seaport Museum announces Archtober 2018 at the Seaport Museum with a series of tours and family programs celebrating New York and Seaport District architecture, throughout the month of October, as well as a special panel discussion that will explore the unique challenges faced by cultural institutions that are also historic sites.
Walking tours and building tours throughout the month of October will illuminate the hidden, forgotten, and often-overlooked histories of New York’s seaport district and Schermerhorn Row-the Museum’s main building. Tours will be held Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout October.
A panel discussion, Walking a Tightrope: Balancing Historic Preservation and Public Engagement, will explore the unique challenges in public engagement faced by cultural institutions that are also historic sites. The event will be held on Thursday, October 11, at the Seaport Museum’s Melville Gallery at 213 Water Street. Doors open at 6:15 PM. Tickets are $25 for adults. Tickets are $25 for adults. $10 Seaport Museum, Tenement Museum, and Museum of Eldridge Street members (contact your member institution for discount details).
Additionally, the Museum will be launching a new drop in family program, The Erie Canal Exploration Zone, an interactive activity on board the ship Wavertree to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the start of construction on the Erie Canal. Programs are free with Museum admission and will be held on Sundays in October from 12-4pm aboard Wavertree.
Tickets, schedules, and more information are available at: https://southstreetseaportmuseum.org/archtober2018
Buildings Tour: “Architecture of Trade: Schermerhorn Row and the Seaport”Come discover the treasures hidden inside Schermerhorn Row, one of the oldest commercial buildings in New York City, and home of the Seaport Museum. You will walk up three floors, usually closed to the public, view selected artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collection, and walk through the hidden hotels and saloon rooms made famous by New Yorker writer Joseph Mitchell’s story “Up in the Old Hotel.”
Tours are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Tickets are $15.
Friday, October 5th and 12th, 3-4PM
Saturday, October 6th and 20th 12-1PM, 2-3PM, and 4-5PM
Walking Tour: “Typography and Job Printing in the 19th-Century Seaport”Most printers in early 19th century New York were located where the action was: near the city’s main port of entry at South Street. Walk with us to discover where passenger and shipping services printed their tickets, timetables, and posters, and learn about the typography of the remaining signage on these historic buildings.
Tours are scheduled Sundays in October. Tickets are $15.
Sunday, October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, 2-3PM
Walking Tour: “Hidden History of the South Street Seaport’s Architecture”
Several buildings in the seaport district are considered to be some of the oldest standing structures in Manhattan. From rat pits to a warehouse built by one of the most famous American architects of the 19th century, the buildings of the seaport have a big story to tell. This is the story of the rise of New York. Take a walk with us and discover the origins of New York’s greatness.
Tours are scheduled Friday evenings in October. Tickets are $15.
Friday, October 12th, 19th, and 26th, 5:30-6:30PM
Family Program: “Erie Canal Exploration Zone”
In 1817, New York State began digging what would become the Erie Canal-a 363 mile ditch from Albany to Buffalo that cemented New York’s place as the financial capital of the world. Board the ship Wavertree as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the start of construction on the Erie Canal with our interactive Exploration Zone. Families can use our hands-on models to better understand the engineering marvel that is the Erie Canal.
Program takes place Sundays in October and are free with Museum admission
Sunday, October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th, 12-4PM
ABOUT ARCHTOBER
Archtober is New York City’s Architecture and Design Month, the eighth annual month-long festival of architecture activities, programs and exhibitions taking place during the month of October.
ABOUT SOUTH STREET SEAPORT MUSEUM
The South Street Seaport Museum, located in the heart of the historic seaport district in New York City, preserves and interprets the history of New York as a great port city. Founded in 1967, and designated by Congress as America’s National Maritime Museum, the Museum houses an extensive collection of works of art and artifacts, a maritime reference library, exhibition galleries and education spaces, working nineteenth century print shops, and an active fleet of historic vessels that all work to tell the story of “Where New York Begins.”