Sail the Historic Lettie G. Howard: Sunset Cruises on Presque Isle Bay

On the water in Rochester, New York, the Lettie G. Howard offers a two-hour sunset sail across Presque Isle Bay that feels like stepping into maritime history. Boarding at the William A.Johnson,jr. Terminal Building at 1000 N River St, Rochester, NY, passengers climb aboard a rare 1893 Fredonia-style fishing schooner and help hoist canvas as the city skyline slides past. The Lettie G. Howard is one of the last surviving wooden Fredonia-style fishing schooners, built in Essex, Massachusetts in 1893. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1989 after decades of coastal service and a full restoration, she is owned by the South Street Seaport Museum and is operated as a programmatic collaboration between the South Street Seaport Museum and the Flagship Niagara League. On an evening sail the Captain or Chief Mate briefs the small crew, the lines are cast off, and the vessel maneuvers into Presque Isle Bay where wind and current set the rhythm. You’ll learn the schooner’s story, help set some larger sails if you like, and move between shaded rails and open decks as colors shift over the water. Presque Isle itself is a geologic feature—a hooked sand spit that shelters the bay and creates calm waters that make sunset viewing exceptional in this part of the Eastern United States. The shoreline alternates with marsh grasses and breakwaters; look for the layered sandstone and glacial deposits along nearby bluffs and the tangle of cattails at the bay edge. Birdlife is active at dusk, and the western horizon often lights with an unobstructed, wide-angle sunset over water—rare and prized. This sail is special because it pairs hands-on seamanship with living maritime history. The Lettie G. Howard’s wooden planking, standing rigging, and restored lines give a tactile sense of 19th-century fishing work that modern powerboats can’t replicate. The program’s education-first approach makes it a strong community anchor for Rochester’s waterfront, connecting visitors to local maritime heritage and Presque Isle’s natural setting. Practical details: plan to arrive 30 minutes early to check in; the vessel departs on schedule and sails rain or shine at the Captain’s discretion. Benches and a rustic onboard restroom are available; bring non-glass snacks and a warm layer—the evening breeze off the bay bites even in summer. For photographers and families alike, a two-hour sunset sail from the William A.Johnson,jr. Terminal Building is an accessible, memorable way to experience Erie’s shoreline, squarely combining history, hands-on sailing, and wide western sunsets. Tickets are limited; the crew welcomes participation but also accommodates quieter observers, making this sail an ideal mix of hands-on learning and relaxed sightseeing—book through the FareHarbor referral link and come prepared for brisk evening air, close-up rigging, and expansive western light and stellar views.