Historic ship Amistad will dock in Yonkers Wednesday and offer free tours

The historic ship, the Amistad, is sailing into Yonkers for a single day.

On Wednesday, July 31, the ship will dock at Esplanade Park, where visitors can experience a free, educational tour aboard the boat from noon to 7 p.m.

“Come by and learn from our Discovering Amistad's education team,” the ship’s website reads, “about how the ship was built, the story of the Amistad Rebellion, and how we use the vessel today.”

The Amistad: ‘A seemingly small moment in history’

Often remembered as a slave ship, the Amistad “is not and was never a slave ship,” according to Paula Mann-Agnew, executive director of Discovering Amistad, the organization that owns the Amistad.

“It is actually a cargo ship that was being used to smuggle smaller groups of Africans through Cuba,” Mann-Agnew said.

A replica of the real-life 1839 cargo ship, the Amistad now operates as “floating classroom,” according to its website. While on board, guests can learn the story of the 1839 Amistad Uprising, during which the Mende people, captives from Sierra Leone, took over the Amistad. The captives intended to sail back to Africa, but when they were not able to navigate there, the ship was captured and brought to the New London Harbor port in Connecticut.

“The Mende were faced with slavery or execution,” the website reads.

Usually based in Connecticut, the Amistad is making the trip to Yonkers as a part of the 2024 Voyage for Freedom tour, which aims to teach guests about the role of New York state in the Amistad rebellion story.

“We hope that our guests learn about a seemingly small moment in history that shows just how important it is to be a change agent in one's own life as well as the life of others,” Mann-Agnew said. “This history is about comradery and using individual strength to achieve the unthinkable.”

What you need to know if you go

When: Noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

Where: Esplanade Park, 71 Water Grant Street, Yonkers.

Cost: Free

For more information: Check out discoveringamistad.org/2024-voyage-for-freedom-tour .

Samantha Antrum is the community news and outreach reporter for The Journal News/lohud. She reports on cultural and social justice issues and events . You can reach her at santrum@lohud.com .

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Historic ship Amistad will dock in Yonkers Wednesday and offer free tours