South Street Seaport Museum announces Poets Afloat

South Street Seaport Museum announces Poets Afloat on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 2pm, aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Online registration begins at $1. Tickets will be free in-person the day of the event. Proceeds are split between the participating vessels. Advance registration is encouraged, walkups are welcome. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of poetry on the high seas! seaportmuseum.org/poets-afloat

The sixth annual NYC Poets Afloat group poetry reading returns aboard the 1885 tall ship Wavertree. Poets have been invited to participate in micro-residencies aboard ships in New York Harbor, where they have been inspired to write and create poetry while being surrounded by the city’s bustling waters. Now, these poets will gather on the deck of Wavertree for a group reading, sharing their creative works with the audience.

Access to Wavertree involves climbing a few stairs, walking up an angled gangway, and descending a few stairs onto the deck. The lower decks are accessible via stairs, while the upper deck requires navigating steep ladder-like stairs.

2025 Poets

Jee Leong Koh, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Kyle Carrero Lopez, Africa Wayne, Joe Dahut, Cynthia Manick, Peter Milne Greiner

About the 1885 Tall Ship Wavertree

Wavertree was built at Southampton, England, in 1885 and, after a 24-year sailing career and circumnavigating the globe at least three times, is now the last remaining iron-hulled three-masted full-rigged cargo ship. Today, Wavertree is visited by guests of all ages from around the globe and serves as the centerpiece of the “Street of Ships” at the Seaport Museum. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1978 and symbolizes the profound influence of sailing ships, their intrepid sailors, and the bustling waterfront in shaping New York City into a modern metropolis. As a historic vessel with a fascinating past, Wavertree embodies the rich maritime heritage that played a pivotal role in transforming South Street into the vibrant heart of “Where New York Begins.” seaportmuseum.org/about-wavertree

Enjoy More That the Museum Offers

Access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree at Pier 16 is included with this event. Access to the additional historic ships and exhibitions on view is not included with this event. If you would like to explore more that the Museum has to offer, book in advance or ask Museum staff about admission tickets, available Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm when you check in. Museum admission tickets grant access to the 1885 tall ship Wavertree and 1908 lightship Ambrose at Pier 16 as well as all current exhibitions on view in the introduction galleries inside Schermerhorn Row located at 12 Fulton Street. Admission tickets also include entry to the new Maritime Cityexhibition in A.A. Thomson & Co. located at 213 Water Street. seaportmuseum.org/admission

About the 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, the Museum houses an extensive collection of works of art and artifacts, a maritime reference library, exhibition galleries and education spaces, working 19th century print shops, and an active fleet of historic vessels that all work to tell the story of “Where New York Begins.” seaportmuseum.org

#SouthStreetSeaportMuseum #WhereNewYorkBegins

@SouthStreetSeaportMuseum - Facebook

@seaportmuseum - Instagram

@seaportmuseum - X

@seaportmuseum - TikTok