The Christeen

 Christeen, a 38-foot gaff-rigged sloop, is the oldest oyster sloop in America and a National Historic Landmark. She was originally built in 1883 for Captain William Smith in Glenwood Landing for harvesting oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. The vessel was licensed to work the offshore oyster beds of Long Island and to participate in the coasting trade in 1884. In 1894, then owned by Henry W. Schmeelk, Jr., Christeen was licensed to work the Connecticut Oyster beds.  The sloop continued to oyster and carry cargoes under sail until 1914, when a small engine was added and she was converted to an auxiliary powered motor vessel.

In 1936, Christeen was sold on the occasion of Capt. Bond's death. The sloop worked in the New Jersey fisheries.. After a brief service as an excursion and sightseeing charter boat in the 1970s, Christeen was sold again and became a liveaboard at New London, Connecticut, when discovered and purchased by the Connecticut River Museum, who restored the vessel's  appearance and.rehabilitated her to return to sail, and occasionally dredge for oysters. On December 4th, 1991, Christeen was officially certified as a National Historic Landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Over her 125 years, Christeen served not only as an oyster dredge but also as a cargo carrier and live-aboard between Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. After surviving 16 major hurricanes, numerous nor’easters, two sinkings, and severe neglect, Christeen was returned home to Oyster Bay in 1992. A dedicated group of volunteers worked tirelessly on the restoration of Christeen.

Christeen was completely restored and launched in 1999. Christeen’s new mission is to serve as a floating classroom for The WaterFront Center. Programs offered on the ship include sunset cruises, harbor tours and marine ecology classes. During daytime harbor tours and golden-hour sunset cruises, passengers aboard Christeen set out on a two-hour boat ride that allows them to experience Oyster Bay and the Long Island Sound from a new perspective.

While on board, crewmates will offer visitors information about the surrounding towns, waters, houses and boats.

Sources:

“History.” Oyster Sloop CHRISTEEN, www.sailchristeen.org/history. Accessed 12 Jan. 2024

 “Sail Aboard Christeen.” Long Island Weekly, 26 July 2022, longislandweekly.com/sail-aboard-christeen