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THE WATERFRONT MUSEUM
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 113569896 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A54 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · waterfrontmuseum.org
revenue
$301K
expenses
$172K
net assets
$538K
employees
2
volunteers
15
program ratio
69%
mission · from form 990

TO PROVIDE ARTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WATERFRONT ACCESS AND PROMOTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION

profile · synthesized from sources

The Waterfront Museum operates a historic wooden barge in Red Hook, Brooklyn, offering free public tours, educational programs for students, and cultural events including art exhibits and theatrical performances. It preserves maritime history and promotes waterfront access through its unique floating venue. The organization also supports research and community engagement around New York Harbor's industrial and labor heritage.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $41K
    MARITIME EDUCATION INITIATIVE: THE WATERFRONT MUSEUM PROVIDES FREE AND LOW-COST MARITIME EDUCATION PROGRAMS YEAR-ROUND IN AN INSPIRING AND DISTINCTIVE SETTING. THESE INCLUDE FREE MUSEUM TOURS TWICE WEEKLY; SCHOOL, CAMP, SENIOR AND TOURIST GROUP VISITS BOOKED IN ADVANCE; AND RESEARCH ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, JOURNALISTS, AND HISTORIANS.
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Art Exhibits
Hosts rotating art exhibits featuring local artists, such as the "Four Paintings" series, connecting art to the maritime and labor history of Red Hook.
Historic Preservation
Maintains and operates the Lehigh Valley No. 79, a 1914 wooden barge listed on the National Register of Historic Places, through dry dock repairs and ongoing restoration.
Maritime Education Initiative
Provides free and low-cost educational programs year-round, including school, camp, and senior group visits, as well as research assistance for students, professors, and historians.
Open Hours
Free public tours offered on Thursdays and Saturdays for families and individuals aboard the historic barge in Red Hook.
Theatrical Performances
Presents stage productions including Bertolt Brecht's "Galileo" and Arthur Miller’s "The Hook," using the barge as a performance venue.
activities · 8 groups

What they do

  • Historic Vessel and Equipment Preservation 3 activities
    • Hosts group visits by advance booking
      Provides scheduled visits for school, camp, senior, and tourist groups through advance reservations as part of its maritime education outreach.
    • Provides free public museum tours
      Offers free public tours on most Thursdays and Saturdays when the barge is docked in Red Hook, as part of its maritime education program. These open hours were established in response to growing visitor interest.
    • Restores and maintains historic barge
      Invested $280,000 in labor and materials to repair and restore the Lehigh Valley No. 79 during a 100+ day dry dock restoration, ensuring continued operation of the floating museum.
  • Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
    • Engages community through public programs
      Hosts public events such as Circus Sundays and Sunset Concerts to engage visitors with maritime history and the harbor environment, particularly aiming to reconnect Red Hook residents with their waterfront.
  • Film Festival and Screening Programming 1 activity
    • Hosts film screenings
      Organizes film screenings, including 16mm prints by avant-garde filmmakers such as Stan Brakhage, in partnership with the Film-Makers' Cooperative.
  • Organization Website and Online Platform Management 1 activity
    • Maintains digital access through website
      Launched and maintains an official website to expand public access to information about the museum and its programs.
  • Free Outdoor & Community Theater Productions 1 activity
    • Presents theatrical productions
      Hosts live theatrical performances aboard the barge, including productions such as Bertolt Brecht's Galileo by the Brooklyn Stage Company.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Provides exhibition space for local artists
      Offers exhibition opportunities to neighboring artists, supporting public access to cultural, maritime, and labor history.
  • Research and Scholarly Fellowship Support 1 activity
    • Provides research assistance
      Offers research support to students, professors, journalists, and historians as part of its educational mission.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Ensures operational continuity during emergencies
      Maintained presence and secured the barge during Hurricane Sandy, with staff and volunteers monitoring the vessel through extreme tidal conditions.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$301K
Contributions & grants$234K78%
Program service revenue$54K18%
Investment income$12K4%
Other revenue$236
expenses
Total expenses$172K
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead26%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$44K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$673K
Cash$424K
Investments$80K
Liabilities$136K
Net assets$538K
Liquid reserves35.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +70.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
DAVID SHARPS PRESIDENT 40 $90K
board members · 7
  • ANNIK LA FARGE — BOARD CHAIR/SECRETARY
  • GREG O'CONNELL — BOARD MEMBER
  • HOWARD WEBER ESQUIRE — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAMES KENNA — BOARD MEMBER
  • JAYNE K SMITH — BOARD MEMBER
  • NIEL ISBRANDTSEN — TREASURER
  • REBECCA CHACE — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 12

Who they work with

  • Brooklyn Stage Company Partner — Collaborates to present theatrical productions, including Bertolt Brecht's Galileo.
  • Brooklyn Stage Company Partner — Collaborates with the Waterfront Museum to present theatrical productions, including the play _Galileo_.
  • Brooklyn Stage Company Partner — Presented a production of Galileo in collaboration with the Waterfront Museum.
  • Film-Makers' Cooperative Partner — Co-hosted a film screening event featuring works by Stan Brakhage.
  • Film-Makers' Cooperative Partner — Partners to host film screenings, including works by Stan Brakhage.
  • George Rhoads Partner — Commissioned to design and build the audiokinetic Ball Machine sculpture for the museum.
  • Greg O'Connell Partner — Facilitated the museum's relocation to Red Hook by offering moorage as part of a waterfront development agreement.
  • John Quadrozzi Partner — Provided temporary mooring space on Columbia Street during construction of the new pier.
  • New York State Canal Corporation Government — Provided access to its Repair Facility in Waterford for the barge's dry dock restoration.
  • Norman Brouwer Partner — Assisted in securing the barge's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • Pete Seeger Partner — Advocated for the museum by convening maritime organizations and supporting David Sharps’ efforts to find permanent moorage.
  • the Film-Makers’ Cooperative Partner — Co-hosted a screening event featuring Stan Brakhage's films.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cultural Access Through Artist Platforms
    methodology: cultural_access_through_art_and_history
    By providing a platform for local artists, we connect the public to cultural, maritime, and labor history because artist-driven interpretation fosters community-rooted engagement with shared heritage.
  • Place-Based Experiential Education
    methodology: place-based_education
    By situating education programs on a historic waterfront barge, we enhance engagement and learning because physical interaction with the maritime environment deepens ecological and historical understanding.