F.D. CROCKETT (log deck boat)
Also known as: DHR File Number: 059-5013
Why it's listed
The F.D. Crockett is a Chesapeake Bay deck boat with a hull made of nine pine logs, built in 1924 in the Poquoson style. Alexander Gaines shaped the log hull at Dare, Virginia, and John Franklin Smith finished the vessel at Smith Marine Railway. It measures 62.8 feet overall and was built for Ferdinand DeSota Crockett to haul produce, fertilizer and livestock to regional markets. Later owners used it for oyster and crab dredging. The boat was built just as engines were replacing sail, and it is one of only two large log deck boats built for motor power that survive. It is the only one with its original log bottom. Its round fantail stern reflects the earlier sailing vessels from which it descended. The bow, stern, deck, pilot house and forepeak cabin have been repaired or rebuilt, while the log bottom remains original. Donated to the Deltaville Maritime Museum in 2005, it now serves as a floating exhibit.
Significance in brief: Nominated under Criterion C, the boat embodies the distinctive characteristics of a log-hulled deck boat built specifically for an internal combustion engine. It is one of only two such large log deck boats still in existence and the only one with its original log bottom. It was built during the Chesapeake Bay's shift from sail to engine power and was one of the last large log boats built.
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 12000544, listed August 22, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 287 Jackson Creek Rd., Deltaville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | August 22, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000544 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | Gaines, Alexander (Builder); Smith, John Franklin (Builder) |
| Architectural style | OTHER: early 20th Century Chesapeake Poquoson Style Log Built Deck Boat |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park, moored at its dock on Mill Creek, displayed for educational purposes and travels the Chesapeake Bay as a museum ambassador. The bow, stern, deck, planking and pilot house have been rebuilt or repaired. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.55559, -76.32255 (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 12000544.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712302
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.