ADMIRAL DEWEY (tugboat)
Also known as: Helen Mcallister
Why it's listed
Berthed at Pier 16 on the East River, the Helen McAllister is a riveted steel harbor tugboat about 95.7 feet long. She was begun in 1899 and launched in 1900 as the steam tug Admiral Dewey, built by the Burlee Dry Dock Company of Port Richmond for the Berwind-White Coal Company. For decades she towed coal barges and bunkered ships in New York harbor. In June 1900 she helped fight a major fire along the Hoboken waterfront, towing the liners Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse and Bremen away from burning piers and earning the largest salvage award of 35 claimants. A diesel engine replaced her steam plant in 1956, and she was later renamed for the wife of a McAllister Towing president. Few harbor tugs of her era survive, and she keeps the graceful hull lines, wood-paneled cabins and curved pilothouse windows typical of the type. She was later donated to South Street Seaport Museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tug satisfies Criterion C as a rare and largely intact example of an American harbor tug of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Only a handful of tugs of this vintage survive in the New York area. Despite her 1956 changes she keeps the look of a classic steam tug, and her career includes a notable 1900 Hoboken fire rescue.
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 02001619, listed December 27, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Pier 16, East River, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | December 27, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001619 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1899-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Burlee Drydock Co., Port Richmond, NY, builders. |
| Architectural style | OTHER: harbor tugboat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Berthed at Pier 16 as a museum ship after being donated to South Street Seaport Museum; powered by a 1956 diesel engine, with a tall stack installed in 1992 to restore her original profile. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | South Street Seaport |
| Coordinates | 40.70537, -74.00254 (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 02001619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4683669
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.