MODESTY (Sloop)
Why it's listed
Modesty is a wooden sloop built in 1923 at the Wood & Chute Shipyard to dredge shellfish in Long Island Sound and nearby bays. She measures about 36 feet, with a wide beam, shallow draft, low freeboard for hauling heavy dredges, a centerboard, and a gaff rig. Her hull uses oak frames, cedar planking and a hackmatack stem. She worked as a scallop dredger from 1923 until at least the early 1930s, and was sold in 1936 for oystering. The Long Island Maritime Museum acquired her in 1974 and restored her between 1975 and 1980, using traditional methods and documented plans to return her to her 1923 appearance. The nomination calls her a true "south-sider" and a nearly unaltered example of the hundreds of sloops that served the northern oyster and scallop fisheries. She is believed to be the last surviving sailing scallop dredger, which is the basis for her national landmark standing.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes Modesty as a nearly unaltered, typical Long Island Sound "south-sider" sloop of the northern oystering and scalloping industry. She is believed to be the last surviving scallop dredger that worked under sail, and no others are known to survive. She is designated under National Historic Landmark criteria 1 and 4.
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 01001051, listed August 7, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 84 West Ave, Long Island Maritime Museum, West Sayville |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | August 7, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001051 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1923-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Wood & Chute, Greenpoint, New York |
| Criteria |
|
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated August 7, 2001 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored by the Long Island Maritime Museum between 1975 and 1980 to her 1923 appearance and returned to working condition; the museum acquired her in 1974. |
| Coordinates | 40.72205, -73.09583 (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 01001051.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6889249
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.