FRANCIS, JOSEPH, IRON SURF BOAT
Why it's listed
This lifesaving surf boat, made of corrugated sheet iron and wood, measures 26 feet long with a beam of 6 feet 8 inches. Joseph Francis of New York built it in 1854 after the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury ordered a boat for Lake Erie, to be shipped to Kelley's Island, Ohio. A 1854 federal appropriation funded boats at twenty-five points on the Great Lakes, though no government lifesaving service operated there until 1876. Francis, shipbuilder and inventor of the metallic, unsinkable, self-righting lifesaving craft, first used corrugation in 1845 to give the thin iron strength. Many of the early Lake Erie boats were lost, making this one a rare survivor, and museum officials say it may be the oldest metal surfboat in the country. It later served at the Point Marblehead station. Today the hull is deteriorated, with missing wooden parts and a hole amidships. The Great Lakes Historical Society plans restoration and educational exhibition.
Significance in brief: Built at the request of the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury for use on Lake Erie, it may be the oldest metal surfboat surviving in the United States, according to two museum officials cited in the form. It is a rare survivor among early Lake Erie lifeboats, many of which were lost to neglect and vandalism. It also reflects the work of Joseph Francis, inventor of the metallic, self-righting lifesaving craft.
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 79001829, listed September 13, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 480 Main St, Vermilion |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | September 13, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001829 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1854 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Francis |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stored at the Great Lakes Historical Society awaiting restoration; wooden portions are missing or badly deteriorated, and there is a hole in one side. |
| Coordinates | 41.42480, -82.36700 (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 79001829.
- 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.