McKean Fireboat Added To National Register of Historic Places

STONY POINT, NY — The National Park Service has approved the nomination of the historic John D. McKean Fireboat, a retired New York City Fire Department vessel, to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

"Today marks an exciting step towards anchoring the John D. McKean fireboat’s place in history – With the retired FDNY fireboat finally securing its well-deserved place on the National Register of Historic Places, this timeless symbol of the bravery and heroism of our first responders in the New York City Fire Department will be preserved for decades to come, honoring the important role the McKean played in our nation's history – including its critical emergency response to the 9/11 attacks, Miracle on the Hudson, and beyond – while celebrating the firefighters who served aboard it," said U.S Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer. "Earlier this year, I personally met with Fireboat McKean Preservation Project’s David Rocco and launched an all-out push to urge the National Park Service to anchor the McKean fireboat’s place in history by listing this important vessel on the National Register of Historic Places. I want to thank NPS for heeding my call and recognizing the McKean's contributions to our nation’s history and ensuring that its legacy sails on for generations to come."

The McKean Fireboat served the FDNY for 58 years, responding to countless emergencies including the 9/11 attacks, the "Miracle on the Hudson" in 2009, and the 1991 Staten Island Ferry Terminal fire.

The historic boat, which now docks in Stony Point, NY, played a critical role in protecting New York’s waterfront communities, and this federal designation will now enshrine this vessel as a piece of America’s history and unlock access to critical federal funding to preserve the fireboat and its long-lasting legacy, Schumer said.

The goal of the McKean organization is to reach out to community schools along the Hudson River from NYC up to Albany and engage students about the possibility of a maritime career.

The boat was purchased at an FDNY surplus auction in 2016 and will be restored by a group of Hudson Valley-based volunteers for museum and educational purposes. On Dec. 8, 2022, the McKean Fireboat was unanimously approved for listing on the State Register of Historic Places by the New York State Review Board as "a significant historic resource under Criterion C in the area of Engineering." The retired vessel was also signed to the State Register that day.

Since then, the State Historic Preservation Office has prepared the McKean's nomination for submission to the NPS for listing on the NRHP. However, this process was initially delayed because the homeport location changed to Stony Point in Rockland County subsequent to the SRHP listing approval.

Fortunately, this past May, the Fireboat McKean Preservation Project got word that New York State would submit new maps and the change of address, formally launching the NPS approval process. Schumer immediately called on the NPS to promptly approve the John D. McKean fireboat's nomination and add it to the NRHP.

With the National Register designation, the retired FDNY boat will see a myriad of benefits, Schumer said. This includes access to the historic rehabilitation tax credit and grants through the Historic Preservation Fund which can be used for maintenance and upkeep of the fireboat, which was originally built in 1954, to ensure its story lives on for generations to come.

Schumer said the designation will also now help increase the name recognition of the boat, bringing new tourists to the site, helping add another piece of treasured history to the Hudson Valley’s tourism economy and preserving the McKean’s story for future generations of New Yorkers to learn about.