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At its peak, the port hosted many commercial enterprises, institutions, ship chandlers, workshops, boarding houses, saloons, and brothels. However, by the 1880s, the port began to be depleted of resources, space for the development of these businesses was diminishing, and the port became too shallow for newer ships. By the 1930s, most of the piers no longer functioned, and cargo ships docked mainly on ports on the West Side and in Hoboken. The project was undertaken by the prominent developer James Rouse, and was modeled on the concept of a "festival marketplace," a leading revitalization strategy throughout the 1970s. On the other side of Fulton Street from Schermerhorn Row, the main Fulton Fish Market building, which had become a large plain garage type structure, was rebuilt as an upscale shopping mall. Pier 17's old platforms were demolished and a new glass shopping pavilion raised in its place, which opened in August 1984. In 1982, the Museum acquired a collection of 285 Van Ryper ship models and archival materials from Charles King Van Riper's son, Anthony K. Van Riper. The collection comprised models crafted between approximately 1938 and 1950, known as "pattern models." The archival materials encompassed research content about steamships, photographs, deck plans, postcards, and advertising brochures from steamship companies. The original intent of the Seaport development was the preservation of the block of buildings known as Schermerhorn Row on the southwest side of Fulton Street, which were threatened with neglect or future development, at a time when the history of New York City's sailing ship industry was not valued, except by some antiquarians. Early historic preservation efforts focused on these buildings and the acquisition of several sailing ships. Almost all buildings and the entire Seaport neighborhood are meant to transport the visitor back in time to New York's mid 19th century, to demonstrate what life in the commercial maritime trade was like. Docked at the Seaport are a few historical sailing vessels, including the Wavertree. A section of nearby Fulton Street is preserved as cobblestone and lined with shops, bars, and restaurants. The Bridge Cafe, which claims to be "The Oldest Drinking Establishment in New York" is in a building that formerly housed a brothel. In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy heavily damaged the Seaport. Tidal floods of up to 7 feet (2 m) deep inundated much of the Seaport, causing extensive damage that forced an end to plans to merge the Seaport Museum with the Museum of the City of New York. Many of the businesses closed, and the remaining businesses suffered from a severe drop in business after the storm. The South Street Seaport Museum re opened in December 2012. The Howard Hughes Corporation, announced that it would tear down the Seaport's most prominent shopping area, Pier 17, as part of a broader redevelopment of the neighborhood. The new pier contains restaurants on its ground floor, and the Rooftop at Pier 17, an outdoor concert venue five stories above the East River. It reopened in July 2018. Subsequently, the Tin Building was raised and relocated 32 feet (10 m) east in a project that started in 2018, with an expected completion date of 2021. Formerly, it was run by General Growth Properties, which acquired Pier 17's longtime owner, The Rouse Company, in 2004. As part of its restructuring, General Growth spun off the Howard Hughes Corporation.

Peck Slip, which occupies the area between present day Water and South streets, served as an active docking place for boats until 1810, and even served as a temporary hideout for George Washington and his troops in April 1776 when they fled from the Battle of Long Island. Then, in 1838, the first steam powered vessel to make a transatlantic voyage, the S. S.  Great Western, docked in Peck’s Slip to the cheers of a quickly growing crowd of onlookers. Today, the median of the street serves as an open space for the community with Brooklyn Bridge views, often displaying public art installations and gatherings, such as fairs and concerts. Peck Slip is also home to the neighborhood's K 5 elementary school The Peck Slip School, P. S. 343. In 2018, plans were revealed for the redevelopment of the parking lot at 250 Water Street, across from the school.

Designated by Congress in 1998 as one of several museums which together make up "America's National Maritime Museum", South Street Seaport Museum sits in a 12 square block historic district that is the site of the original port of New York City. The Museum has over of exhibition space and educational facilities. It houses exhibition galleries, a working 19th century print shop, an archeology museum, a maritime library, a craft center, a marine life conservation lab, and the largest privately owned fleet of historic ships in the country.

Pier 17 was reconstructed in the 2010s and reopened in June 2018. Decks outside on pier 15 allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge, and Brooklyn Heights. The Paris Cafe, within the South Street Seaport historic area, is claimed to be one of the oldest bars in New York City. Pier 17 consists of different restaurants on its ground floor, and The Rooftop at Pier 17 on the top floor, a 3,500 capacity open air concert venue that hosts summer concerts between May and October. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse.

Sports broadcaster ESPN opened a radio and television studio at Pier 17 in April 2018, covering .

South Street Seaport is served by the New York City Bus routes. New York Water Taxi directly serves South Street Seaport on Fridays, weekends, and holidays during the summer, while other New York Water Taxi, NYC Ferry, and SeaStreak ferries serve the nearby ferry slip at Pier 11/Wall Street daily. The Fulton Street/Fulton Center station complex is the closest New York City Subway station. A new subway station, provisionally called Seaport, has been proposed as part of the unfunded Phase 4 of the Second Avenue Subway. Although this station will be located only 3 blocks from the Fulton Street station, there are no plans for a free transfer between them.

In the video game Crysis 2 (2011), Pier 17 is featured as a multi player map. South Street Seaport makes an appearance in Grand Theft Auto IV renamed Fishmarket South.

The original Sub Pop version of Nirvana's "In Bloom" video was filmed here in 1990. The video features Kurt, Krist, and Chad clowning around inside the South Street Mall as well as on Wall Street. The venue is home to the Seaport Music Festival each summer.

The Kojak episode, "Sister Maria" (1977), was filmed in the Seaport. Anthony Bourdain filmed a segment for his show A Cook's Tour, episode 5: Season 2 "Elements of a Great Bar" (2003), was filmed at Jeremy's Ale House on Front Street in the South Street Seaport. Scenes from the turn of the century Cinemax television drama series The Knick has filmed scenes on historic Front Street.