NASH (harbor tug)
Also known as: Major Elisha K. Henson (lt-5)
Why it's listed
Built in 1943 as the Army large harbor tug Major Elisha K. Henson (LT-5), this 114-foot welded-steel vessel was one of the first of several hundred tugs made to a standard design by the naval architects Cox and Stevens. Jakobsen Shipyard at Oyster Bay, New York, built her. She crossed to Britain in February 1944 and on June 6 sailed for Normandy with two barges as part of Operation Mulberry, the artificial harbor effort. Under air attack, she ferried supplies to the beaches and shot down a German Focke Wulf fighter on June 9. She is considered the only known surviving Army service craft linked to the D-Day landings and the only essentially unmodified LT left in the country. Assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers' Buffalo District in 1946 and renamed John F. Nash, she worked on Great Lakes harbors and the St. Lawrence Seaway until retiring in 1989. Her original diesel engine and equipment remain aboard.
Significance in brief: It is described as the only known essentially unmodified surviving example of the World War II Army LT (large tug) type in the United States. As Henson, it sailed to Britain in 1944 and supported the Normandy invasion through Operation Mulberry, shooting down a German fighter on June 9, 1944. It is also described as the only known surviving Army service craft associated with the D-Day landings.
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 91002059, listed December 4, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1776 Niagara St., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | December 4, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91002059 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1943-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Cox & Stevens, New York City, New York; Jakobsen Shipyard, Oyster Bay, New York. |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 4, 1991 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in excellent condition with high integrity and all original equipment in place. Retired in 1989 and declared excess property, with the General Services Administration offering it for sale or transfer. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.46457, -76.51623 (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 91002059.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6966763
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.