Podcast Summary: All Of It – "How New York Arose from the Sea"

Episode Release Date: March 5, 2025
Host: Alison Stewart
Guests: Captain Jonathan Bulwar (President, South Street Seaport Museum) and Martina Caruso (Director of Collections and Exhibitions, South Street Seaport Museum)

Introduction to "Maritime City" Exhibition

In this episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart delves into New York City's rich maritime history through the lens of the South Street Seaport Museum's latest exhibition, "Maritime City." Opening on March 12th, the three-floor exhibition showcases 540 artifacts that chronicle New York's evolution as a pivotal seaport and its role in fostering cultural exchange.

Significance of New York as a Maritime Hub

Captain Jonathan Bulwar emphasizes New York's enduring identity as a maritime city, highlighting its financial and cultural ties to the sea. “[...] every guest and listener has an opinion. We won’t always agree, but our varied perspectives and diversity of experience is what makes New York City great,” he states (02:55).

Bulwar explains that New York's global prominence is deeply rooted in its maritime foundations established during the Dutch era of New Amsterdam. The city's geographical advantages—such as a deep harbor protected from North Atlantic storms—enabled it to become a central hub for international trade, fostering a melting pot of languages and cultures.

Curating the Exhibition: Diverse Collections and Artifacts

Martina Caruso discusses the meticulous organization of the exhibition, which features a blend of fine art and everyday maritime objects collected since the museum's inception in 1967. The collection includes:

• Queen Mary Model: A stunning 22-foot, 1:48 scale model of the retired ocean liner Queen Mary, built in 1935. Martina explains, “Queen Mary is a British ship, but it has an international history. New York can claim it in many ways...” (17:25).

• Chinese Bowl and Canton Painting: These paired artifacts illustrate the burgeoning trade between New York and Asia in the early 19th century. Bulwar remarks on their significance, stating, “They connect a 200 years ago moment in New York City where trade with Asia was beginning” (08:58).

• Sailor's Valentines: Martina clarifies the true origins of these seashell boxes, debunking myths that they were crafted by seafarers. “They were made by women in Barbados and the West Indies and sold to mariners,” she explains (11:07).

• Blacksmith Tools of Simon Douglas: Highlighting the story of a free black blacksmith who contributed to maritime construction, Martina shares, “Simon Douglas [...] cast a vote in his town, Englewood in New Jersey” (12:25).

Inclusion of Diverse Narratives

A significant theme of the exhibition is the inclusion of diverse and often overlooked narratives. Martina discusses the museum’s collaboration with indigenous communities, featuring contemporary art by Jeremy Dennis of the Shinnake Nation. Additionally, the exhibition presents a land and water acknowledgement, recognizing that the South Street Seaport stands on man-made land built upon the original waters of the Lenape people (07:22).

Captain Bulwar reinforces this inclusivity, stating, “Maritime history is New York history. It has to be a story that reflects all of those people,” emphasizing the multicultural crews and diverse populations that shaped the city's maritime legacy (13:47).

The Building and Preservation Efforts

The museum itself is a historical artifact—a nearly unmodified 1868 metal warehouse from A.A. Thompson & Co. Martina highlights the preservation efforts by Bayer Blender Bell, which maintained the building’s integrity while making it accessible for exhibits (04:31).

Interactive and Personal Connections

The exhibition invites visitors to form personal connections with history. Captain Bulwar mentions artifacts like the lightship Ambrose, pivotal during the immigration wave between 1908 and 1934, which many New Yorkers can relate to through their family stories of arriving in America (19:14).

Unique Exhibits and Highlights

Martina showcases unique elements such as early glass plate photography, offering glimpses into 19th and early 20th-century New York. One highlighted piece is a glass plate negative of a tramway on the Brooklyn Bridge, revealing a lesser-known aspect of the city's infrastructure (20:40).

Conclusion: An Invitation to Explore

As the episode concludes, Alison Stewart extends an invitation to listeners to visit the "Maritime City" exhibition and participate in the museum's engaging walking tours. These tours uncover hidden stories and secrets of Lower Manhattan, enriching visitors' understanding of New York's maritime heritage.

Notable Quotes:

• Captain Jonathan Bulwar [02:55]: “New York is a maritime city. [...] All of these are fundamentally stories that have to do with New York's connection to the water and via the water to the rest of the world.”

• Martina Caruso [11:07]: “They were made by women in Barbados and the West Indies and sold to mariners.”

• Martina Caruso [12:25]: “Simon Douglas [...] cast a vote in his town, Englewood in New Jersey.”

• Captain Jonathan Bulwar [13:47]: “Maritime history is New York history. It has to be a story that reflects all of those people.”

• Martina Caruso [20:40]: “Early photography is kind of cumbersome. [...] Those we have these large glass plate negatives [...] It’s just one of those tiny secrets that you are able to admire if you take a moment.”

This episode of All Of It offers an in-depth exploration of New York City's maritime origins, highlighting the city's diverse cultural tapestry and its enduring connection to the sea. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a curious visitor, "Maritime City" promises a rich and engaging experience.