In 1984 "Western Union" was sold to the Philadelphia-based non-profit, Vision Quest National, Ltd. and renamed "New Way". The vessel was utilized for a program to redirect troubled youth. On May 16, 1984, the ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1997, she played the role of "La Amistad" in the 1997 Steven Spielberg film "Amistad". The opportunity for the ship to return to Key West came about in 1997 and she was subsequently purchased by Historic Tours of America, Key West. HTA restored her original name, "Western Union" and ran sunset and day sails as well as charter trips. But in early 2007, HTA announced it had been losing $100,000/year on the charters and put the boat up for sale for $600,000.