One of the last remaining iron-hulled sailing ships from the 19th century has been lovingly restored and is now docked at New York’s historic South Street Seaport Museum.
First launched in 1885 from Southampton, England, Wavertree is a majestic relic of maritime trade. Measuring over 300 feet in length, this fully-rigged ship once carried cargo across the globe. She carried grain from Australia, nitrate from Chile, lumber from the west coast of the United States, and jute from modern-day Bangladesh. She called at ports on every continent except Antarctica. After 24 years of service, including at least three circumnavigations of the globe and surviving a Cape Horn storm that tore down her masts, Wavertree was eventually abandoned in the harbor of Punta Arenas, Chile, before being rediscovered and brought to New York.
Today, Wavertree stands as the crown jewel of the South Street Seaport Museum’s collection. Visitors can explore her decks, imagining the life of sailors who worked the ship’s ropes and braved treacherous seas. The vessel was meticulously restored between 2015 and 2016, with her hull repaired and rigging replaced, ensuring her historical integrity for future generations.
Her location at the South Street Seaport Museum, once the heart of the city’s maritime trade, places her in the midst of a waterfront that has witnessed the ebb and flow of commerce for centuries. The ship is a living testament to New York’s rich maritime history.
