''Priscilla'' is a classic oyster dredging sloop and museum ship at the

Long Island Maritime Museum The Long Island Maritime Museum is located in West Sayville, New York. History The Long Island Maritime Museum was founded in 1966 on the waterfront grounds of the former Meadowedge estate of Mrs. Florence Bourne Hard in West Sayville. Flore ...

. Built in 1888, it is the oldest surviving boat from the Great South Bay oyster fleet, and was designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 2006. and It is berthed near the ''

Modesty Modesty, sometimes known as demureness, is a mode of dress and deportment which intends to avoid the encouraging of sexual attraction in others. The word ''modesty'' comes from the Latin word ''wikt:modestus, modestus'' which means 'keeping with ...

'', another National Historic Landmark sloop.

History

On Saturday, April 7, 1888, Elisha Saxton launched his brand new working sloop, ''Priscilla'' on the Patchogue River. Saxton had built ''Priscilla'' for George Rhinehart of Lawrence, New York, who named the boat for his wife, Priscilla. From 1888 to 1963, ''Priscilla'' was owned and operated by several oystermen from Connecticut and New York. During these years, she experienced many changes. The oystermen spoke of "Pris" as a fast, able and "smart" boat - a "money maker" because, unlike other boats, she could dredge well in both light and heavy winds. By 1963, the oyster beds were completely exhausted or covered with silt from storms and hurricanes of the previous decades. ''Priscilla'' is one of the last of the New York oyster sloops. From 1963 to 1976, ''Priscilla'' became a cruising sailboat after much hull and interior restoration. Her owner, John Woodside, sailed ''Priscilla'' several times to the Bahamas and to Maine. In the early 1970s, he schooner-rigged her, copying the sail plan of the famous schooner America. In 1976, John Woodside donated her to the Suffolk Marine Museum, which is known today as The

. As the largest vessel in the museum's collection, ''Priscilla'' has traveled the Great South Bay visiting various ports of call, and has participated in special regattas held for classic vessels. In 1986, she participated in the Parade of Tall Ships at the Salute to the Statue of Liberty Fourth of July Celebration in New York Harbor, receiving featured television coverage by WABC-TV.

References

External links

Priscilla Website

Museum Website

Priscilla summary at National Park Service
{{DEFAULTSORT:Priscilla (Sloop) National Historic Landmarks in New York (state) Museum ships in New York (state) Islip (town), New York Oyster sloops Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Museums in Suffolk County, New York 1888 ships National Register of Historic Places in Suffolk County, New York Ships built in New York (state)