All photos (c) 2004 & 2005 Bernard Ente
unless otherwise credited
Working Harbor Committee
For the heritage and future of the Harbor of New York and New Jersey

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 or supporter, Click here

Site map, credits and copyright

 

A tug near the Statue of Liberty. Photo snapped by WHC member and photographer Bernard Ente on a recent Hidden Harbor Tour. For more photos, click here.

 

Hidden Harbor Tours® is a registered trademark of the
Working Harbor Committee, Inc.

The primary activity of WHC is the sponsorship of tours of New York and New Jersey's working waterfront - places that are normally hidden from the eyes of most area residents and visitors. We call them Hidden Harbor Tours.

We offer these tours on our annual Working Harbor Day in May - at greatly reduced prices - and on selected dates throughout the summer. This year we offered 3 summer tours on Circle Line 42 boats - and, with the generous support of Circle Line 42 and American Stevedoring, we provided a free tour for over 350 low-income children.

These tours are narrated by people who know the harbor intimately - tug boat captains, maritime historians and other experts. We visit places like the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the tug boat berths in Erie Basin and Kill Van Kull, container and breakbulk ports, and the like. The world of working maritime vessels and facilities is both fascinating as well as vitally important to the area's economic well being. Want to know where your Toyota came in? How the ingredients for your chocolate bar got here? How your trash is removed? Welcome to the working waterfront.

We offer two sets of tours. First we offer a full day of very low cost tours on Working Harbor Day, our signature event held on or near National Maritime Day each May. This is a volunteer event and you might want to help - if so, go to "Join Us" and let us know. Volunteers get one free ride - plus lunch.

The second set of tours takes place in the months following - July, August and September. These tours are somewhat longer and the price is higher - but still well below market rate. Prices currently start at $25 for adults with discounts for seniors, kids and members. We also sponsor some free trips for low-income kids and seniors.

Hidden Harbor Tours are educational, interesting, and most of all, great fun. If you haven't been on one yet, we hope to see you soon. And if you have, we do plan to add additional destinations in the future.

WHC's Hidden Harbor Tours help fulfill our mission to strengthen awareness of the working
harbor's history and vitality today, and its opportunities for the future