USC&GS Arago was a steamer

Steamboat

A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...

 that served as a survey ship in the United States Coast Survey from 1871 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1890. She was the second ship of the Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey to bear the name.

Arago was built by Maury and Steinburg at New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 in 1871. She did survey work along the Atlantic coast of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 throughout her career.

When the Coast Survey was reorganized in 1878 to form the Coast and Geodetic Survey, Arago became a part of the new service.

From 1871 until 1881, she was one of two ships in Coast Survey and Coast and Geodetic Survey named Arago, the other being Arago

USC&GS Arago (1854)

USC&GS Arago was a survey ship that served in the United States Coast Survey from 1854 to 1861 and from 1866 to 1878 and in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1878 to 1881. She was the first ship of the Coast Survey or Coast and Geodetic Survey to bear the name.-Construction and early...

 of 1854.

Arago was sold to the United States Lighthouse Service

United States Lighthouse Service

The United States Lighthouse Service, also known as the Bureau of Lighthouses, was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States from the time of its creation in 1910 until 1939...

in 1890.