Board a 1914 Wooden Freight Barge on October 17 in Red Hook
Step aboard New York Harbor's last wooden lighterage barge of its kind on October 17, then walk to historic taverns along Conover Street.
🚢 Free Open House Walk-In
⚓ The Harbor's Last Wooden Lighterage Barge
Built in 1914, Lehigh Valley Railroad Barge No. 79 is the sole surviving wooden covered barge of its kind from New York Harbor's lighterage era. Once part of a vast harbor fleet carrying rail cargo across the water, the red-painted vessel now serves as a floating museum where visitors can step onto pine timber decks and explore maritime history.
🎟️ Saturday Hours and Pier 44 Entrance
For Open House New York Weekend, the barge opens on Saturday, October 17, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM with free admission. Enter through the Pier 44 Waterfront Garden gate at 290 Conover Street, following the garden boardwalk directly to the gangway. No advance reservations are required, making it an easy drop-in along the harbor.
🦞 Conover Street and Red Hook Seafood
Stepping off the gangway places you on Conover Street, where Red Hook's cobblestones turn away from harbor breezes into quiet neighborhood stops. Walk one block to Sunny's Bar for a warm local drink, or head up Van Brunt Street for fresh lobster rolls and local brewery taps to round out a relaxed waterfront afternoon.
