ADVENTURE (schooner)
Also known as: 226070
Why it's listed
Adventure is a 121-foot wooden knockabout schooner built in 1926 at the John F. James & Son yard in Essex, Massachusetts, to a design by Thomas F. McManus. Built in the traditional plank-on-frame manner, she retains much of her original white oak planking, oak keel and yellow pine ceiling. She fished out of Gloucester from 1926 to 1934 and out of Boston until 1953, when she retired as the last American schooner to catch fish by dory hand-trawling. Her catch under Captain Leo Hynes totaled about $3.5 million over nineteen years, believed to be a record for an American fishing vessel. In 1954 her fish hold and engine room were converted to passenger cabins, changes described as reversible. Howard Chapelle examined her in 1934 and used her construction details in his book on American fishing schooners. She is listed for her role in the fishing industry and as one of three surviving Essex-built Gloucestermen. Today she serves as a maritime education vessel in Gloucester.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Adventure was the last fishing schooner in operation using the dory hand-trawling method and the most financially successful commercial fishing vessel in Atlantic fishing annals. She is also a premier example of the Gloucesterman class and one of three Essex-built Gloucester fishing schooners still afloat from the late 19th and early 20th century. She is listed under Criteria A and C at the state level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89002054, listed December 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | State Fish Pier, Gloucester Inner Harbor, Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | December 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89002054 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1926-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Architect Thomas F. McManus, Boston, MA; Builder John F. James and Son shipyard, Essex, MA |
| Architectural style | Other ("Knockabout" Schooner) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Industry, Maritime History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National, State, Local |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated April 19, 1994 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being restored and used as a hands-on maritime educational classroom and living museum, also for charters; rotted frames forward of the foremast were slated for replacement. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.61074, -70.65811 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89002054.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2323226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.