''Christeen'' is the oldest oyster
sloop in the United States and was declared a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1992.
[ and ]
She was built in 1883 in
Glenwood Landing, New York as a
gaff-rigged
Gaff rig is a sailing rig (configuration of sails, mast and stays) in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar (pole) called the ''gaff''. Because of the size and shap ...
sloop. She had several homes including
Essex, Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,733 at the 2020 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.
History
The Great Attack
Essex is one of the few A ...
, but in 1992 she arrived back in the hamlet of
Oyster Bay, New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is the easternmost of the three towns which make up Nassau County, New York, United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County to extend from the North Shore to the South Shore ...
. Funds were raised and over the next seven years, she was restored and relaunched in 1999. She currently serves as a working museum ship, offering educational tours, public, and private charters of Oyster Bay at the
WaterFront Center.
[https://www.sailchristeen.org]
__NOTOC__
History
The ''Christeen'', recognized as a National Historic Landmark, was built in 1883 for
Captain William Smith to harvest oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. Throughout her long life the ''Christeen'' worked in the waters of Greenport, Southhold, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The sloop was named for Captain Smiths 13-year-old wife.
In 1914 an engine was installed and the ''Christeen'' was used as a cargo vessel transporting potatoes between
Long Island and New London, and furniture and other goods between New York City and the eastern end of Long Island.
From 1958 to 1976 she was a pleasure yacht and finally in 1989 was abandoned and nearly sunk in
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States, located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut. It was one of the world's three busiest whaling ports for several decade ...
. After being saved by Tradewinds Education Network in Connecticut, the ''Christeen'' was donated to the Oyster Bay non-profit organization
Friends of the Bay and in 1991 she finally returned home. Restoration of the oyster sloop was completed in 1999 at Jakobson Shipyard. The Christeen then joined the WaterFront Center at Oyster Bay, serving their mission of connecting people to the water. After surviving 16 major hurricanes, numerous nor'easters, and severe neglect, the ''Christeen'' is now serving as a floating classroom to educate students of all ages about the operation of historic vessels and protection of the marine environment of Oyster Bay and Long Island Sound.
The Christeen frequently collaborates with local nonprofits and additionally provides both public and private charters at the WaterFront Center.
Boat Specifications
References
External links
Christeen Oyster Sloop, at The Waterfront CenterShort Documentary Film about ChristeenCurrent Programming with Christeen
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christeen (Sloop)
National Historic Landmarks in New York (state)
Landmarks in Oyster Bay (town), New York
Museum ships in New York (state)
Essex, Connecticut
Oyster sloops
Individual sailing vessels
Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
Museums in Nassau County, New York
National Register of Historic Places in Nassau County, New York