February 27, 2005

Archaeological artifacts at NY Unearthed may leave city

The oft-overlooked archaeological collection at New York Unearthed may be heading to Albany, Newsday reports.

The NY Unearthed collection dates back 300 years, with 2 million items such as china cups, glass bottles, clay smoking pipes, shoe buckles and building fixtures. Since July, the museum (located at the site of author Herman Melville's birthplace,) has been open by appointment only and the South Street Seaport Museum no longer wants to manage it.

Newsday says that as a result of budget cuts and too few visitors, members of the archaeology department have been let go, "including its former curator, effectively shutting the lab."

When I visited the museum about a year ago, admission was free and their hours were so obscure it was obvious why they attracted so few visitors. From my notes at the time: "it's only open from noon to 5 or 6 p.m. Closed Sundays, maybe even Saturdays, too. Their signs contradicted the little brochure I picked up." My favorite item on display was the false teeth found near the Sullivan Street tenements.

I was at the location again while on a walking tour with Kevin Walsh of Forgotten New York, who said the museum once had 500,000 artifacts dug up from Five Points. However, all but 18 of those items were stored at the World Trade Center and were destroyed Sept. 11.

As for the South Street Seaport Museum itself, it is only open Friday though Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning April 1, it will open every day of the week. Admission is $8.

Earlier: New York Unearthed by appointment only
Touring Gotham's archaeology with book in hand

February 27, 2005 11:06 AM in Downtown, History, Museums

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