South Street Seaport

The Seaport district dates back to the 1600s. The port facilities fell into disuse in the late 1800s, but in the 1960s an ambitious restoration and redevelopment program began the continuing expansion of the Wall Street business district, the rediscovery of lower Manhattan as a residential community, and the shops and restaurants of the Seaport area have resulted in the renaissance of the entire neighborhood. As part of this redevelopment, the streets that run through the heart of the Seaport were closed to traffic and repaved with cobblestones. The South Street Seaport Museum, founded in 1967, is an integral part of the Seaport community -- in fact, the architectural landmarks that line the streets and the historic ships docked at the Seaport which form the "Street of ships," comprise much of the Museum. The shops and restaurants that today fill the historic buildings have created -- in spirit and activity -- a contemporary version of the original Seaport community.