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Christeen (sloop)
Encyclopedia
Christeen is the oldest oyster sloop
in the United States and was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1992.
She was built in 1883 in Glenwood Landing, New York
as a gaff-rigged
sloop. She had several homes including Essex, Connecticut
, but in 1992 she arrived back in the hamlet of Oyster Bay, New York at the WaterFront Center. Funds were raised and over the next seven years, she was restored and relaunched. She currently serves as a working museum ship, offering educational tours of Oyster Bay and Cold Spring harbor.
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 sunk in New London, Connecticut
. After being raised the Christeen was purchased by the Oyster Bay non-profit organization Friends of the Bay and in 1991 she finally returned home. After surviving 16 major hurricanes, numerous nor’easters, sinkings and severe neglect, the Christeen was restored and set sail to work on Oyster Bay Harbor again, this time fulfilling her new mission: to serve 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.
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
in the United States and was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1992.
She was built in 1883 in Glenwood Landing, New York
Glenwood Landing, New York
Glenwood Landing is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population was 3,779 at the 2010 census.Glenwood Landing overlaps the Town of Oyster Bay and the Town of North Hempstead...
as a gaff-rigged
Gaff rig
Gaff rig is a sailing rig in which the sail is four-cornered, fore-and-aft rigged, controlled at its peak and, usually, its entire head by a spar called the gaff...
sloop. She had several homes including Essex, Connecticut
Essex, Connecticut
Essex is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,505 at the 2000 census. It is made up of three villages: Essex Village, Centerbrook, and Ivoryton.- History :- The Great Attack :...
, but in 1992 she arrived back in the hamlet of Oyster Bay, New York at the WaterFront Center. Funds were raised and over the next seven years, she was restored and relaunched. She currently serves as a working museum ship, offering educational tours of Oyster Bay and Cold Spring harbor.
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.In 1914 an engine was installed and the Christeen was used as a cargo vessel transporting potatoes between Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
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 sunk in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. After being raised the Christeen was purchased by the Oyster Bay non-profit organization Friends of the Bay and in 1991 she finally returned home. After surviving 16 major hurricanes, numerous nor’easters, sinkings and severe neglect, the Christeen was restored and set sail to work on Oyster Bay Harbor again, this time fulfilling her new mission: to serve 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.