K. WHITTELSEY (Tugboat)
Why it's listed
Berthed in Rondout Creek at Kingston, New York, the K. Whittelsey is a 185-gross-ton diesel tugboat built in 1930 by Spedden Shipbuilding of Baltimore for the Oil Transfer Corporation. Her riveted steel hull measures 90 feet 6 inches, and she still carries her original six-cylinder, 800 hp Ingersoll-Rand engine, which weighs about 70 tons. Advertised in 1930 as the most powerful direct-driven diesel tug on the Atlantic Coast, she towed oil barges from New York, reaching as far as South America. Between 1936 and 1940 her pilothouse and funnel were lowered so she could work the New York State Barge Canal. Later owners renamed her several times, and she sank once at a Hoboken dock before being raised. Restoration began in 1991, and she now serves as a museum ship open to schoolchildren. She was listed for her intact record of early diesel marine technology, a rare survival among tugboats.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tug is an intact, representative example of an early-generation diesel tugboat under Criterion C. It keeps its original 800 hp Ingersoll-Rand engine, which records early diesel marine engineering. Few long-serving tugs still have their original power plants.
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 02001395, listed November 21, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 North St. at Rondout Creek, Kingston |
|---|---|
| County | Ulster County |
| Listed | November 21, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001395 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930 C. 1940 |
| Architect / builder | Spedden Shipbuilders, Baltimore, MD |
| Architectural style | OTHER: tugboat |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Berthed in Rondout Creek; an ongoing restoration to operating condition began in 1991, and the tug is frequently opened to the public as a museum ship. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.92245, -73.96977 (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 02001395.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.