History of the City of New York - Field Trip 3

Pioneer

After our tour of South Street Seaport, about 20 of us, along with Professor Jackson, went to board the 115-year old sailing ship, the Pioneer. Compared to the Peking, the other sailing ship anchored at the pier, the Pioneer is tiny, just over 100 feet long. However, the Pioneer, unlike many other schooners, has an iron hull. In fact, she was one of only two cargo sloops with iron hulls, and the only one still around.

We left the dock under engine power, and cruised out into the harbor for a few minutes. Then the engine was cut, and the ship's crew, along with some volunteers from the class, helped raise the sails. It took about 10 minutes to get all three sails up, and then we were under way. With a strong wind at our backs, we sailed almost as fast as we had gone under engine power.

As we sailed past the ferry slips and then past Governors Island towards the Statue of Liberty, I tried to imagine what the harbor must have looked like to Henry Hudson, Giovanni Verrazano, or Peter Minuit. None of today's buildings were there; with the possible exception of a Native American longhouse, there were no buildings at all. The entire area was wooded, and even the coastline was different. With all the activity still in the harbor today, picturing that scenario was very difficult.

I then tried to imagine what the harbor was like in its heyday in the 19th century, with tens of ships docking and leaving, and the water constantly full of the shipping trade. This, too, was not easy, and after a while I just sttled back and enjoyed the view of today's New York City. Before I knew it, we had turned around, and headed back to the Seaport to disembark. It was a fascinating experience.

by David Sanders

Hoisting the sails		Statue of Liberty off the port bow!		The Captain of the Pioneer

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