CATAWISSA (tugboat)
Why it's listed
Catawissa is a 158-foot riveted steel steam tugboat built in 1896-1897 by Harlan & Hollingsworth of Wilmington, Delaware, for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad. She towed strings of coal-laden barges from Mid-Atlantic terminals to ports along the Atlantic seaboard, carrying anthracite from Pennsylvania to New England. She was the second of ten nearly identical tugs the railroad built between 1896 and 1912, and she is the only known survivor of that class. Later owners converted her into a tank-cleaning vessel and renamed her several times. She was retired in the 1980s and ran aground on the New York State Barge Canal while being towed toward Ohio for a planned museum. She now lies at Waterford. Her hull, deckhouse, 1000-horsepower triple expansion engine and boilers remain largely intact, though her pilothouse, masts, propeller and rudder are gone. She was listed for her place in maritime history and for her surviving engineering and design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Catawissa is a rare and outstanding example of a late nineteenth century seagoing towing vessel built for the coastal anthracite trade. She is the second of ten nearly identical railroad tugs and the only known survivor of her class. She is also one of few vessels of her period to keep her original triple expansion steam engine.
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 96000828, listed August 8, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lock 3, NY State Barge Canal, Erie Div., Waterford |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | August 8, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000828 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1896-1897 |
| Architect / builder | Harlan & Hollingsworth Shipyard, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Architectural style | OTHER: coastal tugboat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Maritime History, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; moored at Waterford awaiting a viable preservation plan. Pilothouse, masts, propeller and rudder are missing, and the funnel lies on the deck. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | New York State Barge Canal |
| Coordinates | 42.79932, -73.68891 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96000828.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5051609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.