South Street Seaport Museum reopening with new exhibitions

Tourists and shoppers visit Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. (Charles Eckert) Credit: Tourists and shoppers visit Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. (Charles Eckert)
The South Street Seaport Museum has resurfaced.
Closed down since getting Sandy-soaked six weeks ago, the museum at 12 Fulton St. is reopening 10 a.m. Friday with two new ambitious exhibitions -- a custom print shop (Bowne & Co., Printers) replicating a 19th century print shop replete with 1,200 fonts of movable wood and metal type, and an exhibition of works by renowned Key West folk artist Mario Sanchez.
Seaport supporters hope the Museum's resurrection will help the "Front Street" area, which was hard hit by the superstorm, and where some businesses still remain closed.
Storm damage to the museum's mechanical and electrical system, elevators and escalators means that visitors will be warmed by heaters blowing in air from the sidewalk and must use stairs in lieu of elevators. But "we welcome all comers," said Susan Henshaw Jones, president of the museum, in a statement.
The opening is in large part "a statement of faith in our mission and community," Jones said.
The new exhibitions will join a multimedia presentation about New York City called "Timescapes," and Handheld Devices, an exhibition of historic tools used in ship and port work.

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