The ship AMISTAD will be open for free public at PortSide NewYork alongside our ship MARY A. WHALEN

Saturday, 8/11/18, 10am - 1pm & 2pm - 5pm

Tours of the AMISTAD are open-house style, they do not start at set times.  In addition, PortSide will have info about African American Maritime Heritage on our ship MARY A. WHALEN. This includes books, a small exhibit, and Amistad coloring book pages at our ArtTable.

We are on Pier Pier 11, next to NYC Ferry's Red Hook stop.
Walk in Atlantic Basin at the foot of Pioneer & Conover Streets.
Directions & visitor info

Part of the African American Maritime Heritage program of PortSide NewYork

In 1839, Mende captives from Sierra Leone took control of the ship Amistad. They were unable to navigate back to Africa, and their ship was captured and towed into New London, Connecticut.  The Mende were faced with slavery or execution, and their cause was taken up by many residents in Connecticut.  U.S. Circuit and District courts ruled in favor of the Mende. This case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court; and in 1841, this court agreed with the lower court decisions and the Mende captives were ordered freed.

The replica Amistad is the flagship ambassador of Connecticut today.