In 1652, representatives of the Dutch West India Company built a pier at the tip of the island of Manhattan. Jutting out into the East River from New Amsterdam, soon renamed New York, the pier drew more traders and settlers. More piers were built, and within 75 years, the busy neighborhood known as South Street Seaport had become the main entry point for people and goods to America. Ships from all over the world called here, and the district became a vital crossroads for commerce and new ideas.

Founded in 1967, the South Street Seaport Museum tells the story of the rise of New York as a port city and its critical role in the development of the United States. On an upswing, after many years of decline, the museum recently finalized an agreement to send the four-masted barque Peking, docked at Pier 16, home to Germany. We spoke with Captain Jonathan Boulware, the museum’s executive director.

Is the Peking open for visitors? 

Peking is open, weather permitting, now through the winter. Given Peking’s planned departure in early 2016, we’ve already seen an increase in people visiting. Of course there will be a farewell party for her in the spring, but in the meantime, people should come visit. She’s open Wednesday through Sunday.

Once the Peking leaves, how many ships will the museum have? 

Peking’s departure is part of a larger plan to refocus the fleet of ships to something leaner and more sustainable. What we’ve learned over 40 years of having two big square-riggers is that it’s too many to responsibly maintain. Wavertree is the right ship for the museum. She’s the type of ship you would have seen every day docked along South Street, the Street of Ships, back in the 19th century. The city recognized this truth and funded a year-long, $13 million stabilization and restoration of Wavertree that began this past May. When Wavertree returns from Caddell Dry Dock in Staten Island in 2016, she will become the centerpiece of a fleet that will include the lightship Ambrose, and our three operational vessels, the Lettie G. Howard, Pioneer and the W.O. Decker.

Tell us how the Peking will physically get to Hamburg.  

It’s a big technical challenge. Eminently doable—but not simple. She is old; she is fragile; she is special. She’s not going to go across the Atlantic, as we sailors say, on her own bottom. She’ll go across on a heavy-lift ship.

She’ll leave our pier with tugs. Probably she’ll first go to a calmer piece of water with good crane service to have most of her upper rigging removed. All of that weight up top creates a higher center of gravity, so she’ll be more stable on the crossing with the upper rigging removed.

Then she’ll be moved by tug to the heavy-lift ship waiting in New York Harbor. The heavy-lift ship will sink the center of its deck below the surface of the water, and the Peking will be floated into position. Supporting keel blocks and bilge blocks will be moved into position to secure Peking, and then heavy-lift ship will pump out its ballast tanks and the deck—with Peking on it—will rise.

When she gets to Germany, they’ll sink the deck again out from under her and move her into position at the Hamburg port. The German government has set aside 30 million euros to transport and restore Peking and to make her the centerpiece of their new maritime museum, just as Wavertree will be central to ours.

What will happen to the dock space vacated by the Peking?   

That berth will very quickly be occupied by Wavertree, which will return from a year-long, city-funded, $13 million restoration.

The museum recently received more than $11.6 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. When will the funds be available and how is this money being used?  

The funds are ready now for us to use. Sandy was a terrible event, but presented the museum with an opportunity, in the sense that we’re re-envisioning the museum in the context of its needs, in the context of the area’s needs, and in the context of the population growth of Lower Manhattan. The FEMA money has flexibility to it. We’ve also applied to the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation for a $5 million grant.

We’ve been working on a feasibility study for more than a year. We’re looking at programming, space use, staffing. But we keep going back to where the museum has been strongest throughout its history: education and public programing. Engagement of the public by using our ships and collections and buildings and the district as a whole. This will dictate space use, which leads to a budget plan. We have very good support from the Department of Cultural Affairs and many elected officials, and even the mayor has said he wants this to be a successful effort. It’s a very hopeful time for the museum. The $11.6 million from FEMA was a heck of a shot in the arm for the museum. It is not, however, a complete solution; more funds will be needed. It is what I would call a strong start.

Why is the South Street Seaport Museum important to New Yorkers? 

This is where New York began. It’s where New York went global. In the 19th century, 75 percent of U.S. trade flowed through here. The opportunity, speculation, wealth, and frenzy that have always been a part of New York culture were first evident here. It’s a living, breathing example of the very kind of excitement that this city embodies. The museum interprets this important history, but we also engage visitors in modern activities. We do something that few other museums in the country do, and that is offer a hands-on living history experience. You can sail New York Harbor on an 1885 schooner. You can touch the wrought iron of a ship built in the 19th century. You can use the historic printing presses of Bowne Printers.

As we wind down 2015, what can we expect in the year ahead for the South Street Seaport Museum?

The biggest single event is the return of Wavertree. But that’s emblematic of larger growth. We’re adding programs. We’re already tripled program attendance in virtually  every category, and we’ll be looking to triple attendance again next year. Wavertree’s return will be a visible success and will also be a new attraction that brings new people to the museum.

Thank you so much, Capt. Boulware! Learn more about the South Street Seaport Museum and its educational programs and events.

Photograph by Robert Simko.