April 18, 2011
Seaport Museum's historic boats rotting and rusting
The troubles at the financially struggling Seaport Museum New York may be getting worse, as the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance has warned that the historic boats there are now rotting and rusting due to lack of maintenance.
“After people fell through the rotting deck of the great four-masted barque Peking, South Street Seaport Museum staff placed sheets of plywood over the holes. The ship’s rusted bowsprit is in danger of collapsing. Hull corrosion, frayed rigging and peeling paint are plain to see,” states the MWA newsletter that was e-mailed Friday. “Across Pier 16 floats the Ambrose, the Museum’s cheery red lightship. Below the waterline, an old leak patched years ago has reopened and more than 1,000 gallons of water has seeped into the bilge.”
Asked for comment and confirmation, museum officials emailed the following statement to NewYorkology: “Seaport Museum New York is exploring various options regarding the maintenance of its historic vessels.”
Late Friday, the New York Times said the museum hopes to sell Peking and place its other vessels with various maritime groups on a temporary or permanent basis.
The Seaport Museum has been closed since March, except for access to some of the ships. On Saturday, they were all closed due to the weather, with only the gift shop open to the public.
Last week, the museum’s founders floated a new plan to save the cultural institution, according to DNA.info.
Meanwhile, former staffers have launched efforts to save the ships and the museum’s 19th century print shop Bowne & Co Stationers.
Housed in historic buildings on Schermerhorn Row, the museum earlier this year rebranded itself as the Seaport Museum New York from the old South Street Seaport Museum moniker. Recent exhibitions highlighted the art deco interiors of the SS Normandie and Alfred Stieglitz’s NYC photographs.
(Thanks to kayak blogger Frogma for the tip on the MWA newsletter.)
Picture credit: The Seport Museum’s boats as seen Saturday at the South Street Seaport.
Earlier: Struggling Seaport Museum closing exhibit, ships open
April 18, 2011 10:02 AM in Downtown, History, Museums
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