WaterFront Center facts for kids
The WaterFront Center is a special non-profit group in Oyster Bay, New York. It helps people connect with the beautiful waters of Oyster Bay Harbor and Long Island Sound. They offer fun ways to learn about the ocean and enjoy being on the water!
How the WaterFront Center Started
In the late 1980s, there was a plan to build new buildings where the old Jakobson Shipyard used to be in Oyster Bay. Many people in the community were worried this would harm Oyster Bay Harbor. So, a group called Friends of the Bay, along with local leaders like State Senator Ralph Marino and Carl Marcellino, worked together. They came up with six different ideas for the area.
One idea, called Plan D, was chosen. This plan was to create a special place for the community to learn about the environment and the ocean. This idea was approved in 1998, and then in 2000, The WaterFront Center officially opened its doors!
Meet the Christeen Oyster Sloop
The Christeen is a very old and special boat. She is a 38-foot gaff-rigged sloop, which means she has a specific type of sail. What makes her so unique is that she's the oldest oyster sloop in all of America! She's even a National Historic Landmark, which means she's super important to our country's history.
Christeen was built way back in 1883 for Captain William Smith. Her first job was to harvest oysters in Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor. For over 125 years, Christeen did many jobs. She didn't just collect oysters; she also carried cargo and was even a home for people traveling between Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
In 1991, Christeen was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This amazing boat survived 16 big hurricanes, many strong nor'easters (winter storms), and even sank twice! After all that, she was brought back home to Oyster Bay in 1992. A group of dedicated volunteers worked hard to fix her up, raising over $300,000 and working with a professional boat builder.
Christeen was completely restored and sailed again in 1999. Now, her main job is to be a floating classroom for The WaterFront Center. She has special captains and crew who are certified by the Coast Guard. They teach up to 24 passengers about maritime history (the history of boats and the sea), marine science (how the ocean works), coastal ecology (how living things interact with the coast), and the oyster industry. It's a fantastic way to learn while out on the water!