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Home > Arts & Events > The Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge

The Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge

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290 Conover St., Brooklyn, NY 11231 40.67522 -74.017643
at Pier 44  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
718-624-4719 Send to Phone

Courtesy of The Waterfront Museum

Official Website

waterfrontmuseum.org

Hours

Thu, 4pm-8pm; Sat, 1pm-5pm; Mon-Wed, Fri and Sun, by appointment only

Nearby Subway Stops

2, 3, 4, 5 at Borough Hall; A, C, F, R at Jay St.-MetroTech; R at Court St.; F, G at Smith-9th Sts.

Directions

From Borough Hall/Court St., take the B61 to Red Hook.

Parking

  • Street Parking

Prices

$7 suggested donation

Payment Methods

Cash Only

Profile

While most museums showcase well-preserved relics, the Waterfront Museum is actually inside one: the covered deck-house of Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge #79. This groaning, wood-covered vessel was rescued from a mucky retirement when museum president David Sharps transferred it from the Hudson River to the dilapidated docks of Red Hook circa 1994. Built in 1914, it's a living reminder of a bygone era when the New York harbor was teeming with cargo ships, luxury liners, and naval flotilla. That legacy now decorates the walls and rafters where you'll find signboards from old tugs, tools for lugging cargo, a wooden dingy, and a straw mattress once used by a captain. The floating space also hosts circus shows, musical performances, and rotating art exhibitions—sometimes nautical in theme, sometimes not.

Tours

Self-guided walk-throughs, Thu., 4 p.m.—8 p.m and Sat., 1 p.m.—5 p.m. Guided group tours, $9 per person ($175 minimum). Call in advance to arrange.