There are many ways to explore the landmarks of New York City from land, the air, and water. Join Untapped New York Insiders and the South Street Seaport Museum this spring as we sail past iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Ellis Island aboard the 1885 Schooner Pioneer! This National Register-listed vessel is one of many historic ships in the Seaport Museum’s impressive fleet. Pack a snack and climb aboard for an unforgettable private sail!
This private sail on June 2nd at 1:00 PM ET is open to Untapped New York Insiders for just $30 per person (that’s 40% off the regular price)! Not an Insider yet? Become a member today with promo code JOINUS and get your first month free.
During this 2-hour sail through New York Harbor, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the stunning views, or you can get adventurous. You may have the chance to join the crew and help raise the sails!
Pioneer is an example of the utilitarian schooners that would zip from port to port along the eastern seaboard carrying cargo like timber, stone, grain, and more. However, what sets Pioneer apart from all other American schooners of her era is that she has an iron hull. All other cargo sloops were made of wood, save for one. Out of only two iron-hulled cargo sloops ever made in the United States, Pioneer is the sole surviving example.
View of the hull of schooner Pioneer in shipyard during restoration, 1966-1968. South Street Seaport Museum Archives.
Pioneer launched as a sloop from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, the center of iron shipbuilding, in 1885. She originally carried sand and other materials along the Delaware River for the iron and steel works company Chester Rolling Mills. Over the course of her many active years on the water, Pioneer changed owners and was re-rigged multiple times. She carried everything from coal and lumber to bricks and oil, acquired a diesel engine, and was transformed into a schooner.
By 1956, Pioneer was beached as unserviceable. Thankfully, in 1966, Russell Grinnell, Jr. of Gloucester, Massachusetts, saw the potential in this historic ship and decided to restore it. At the Gladding-Hearn shipyard of Somerset, Massachusetts, Grinnell oversaw the reconstruction of Pioneer’s hull with steel plating.
View of the hull of schooner Pioneer in shipyard during restoration, 1966-1968. South Street Seaport Museum Archives.
After Grinnell’s death in 1970, the ship was donated to the South Street Seaport Museum. Pioneer joined the museum’s fleet of historic vessels, alongside the steam tug Mathilda and the cargo ship Wavertree. At the museum, Pioneer offered the first sailing programs, laying a foundation for the museum’s ongoing educational legacy.
Today, Pioneer continues to provide educational opportunities through programs for school groups and the Volunteer Sail Training Program. Whether you want to learn traditional maritime skills or simply sip a glass of wine while enjoying the view, you can do so aboard Pioneer.
The South Street Seaport Museum offers sails around New York Harbor from May through October. In addition to the Schooner Pioneer, you can also take a ride on the 1930 Tugboat W.O. Decker. Learn more about Seaport Museum harbors sails and more exciting public programs here. JoinUntapped New York Insidersfor a private sail on June 2nd and get 40% off tickets!
