Schooner ERNESTINA, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park State Pier, New Bedford, Bristol County, MA

Significance: ERNESTINA is an example of Essex fishing schooner design and has been used for a variety of purposes. She worked in Grand Banks fishing during the peak of sail and is the oldest surviving Grand Banks fishing schooner. Robert "Bob" Bartlett sailed her in Arctic explorations ca. 1926-45, which were conducted for both private research institutions and the U.S. military during World War II. She was purchased by a Cape Verdean and refitted for the Cape Verdean packet trade, carrying immigrants and cargo between these Portuguese islands off western Africa and the United States. The Republic of Cape Verde gifted her to the United States, and she returned to this country in 1982. Thereafter, she worked as a cultural ambassador and sail training vessel. She was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990 and is now part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1372
Survey number: HAER MA-168
Building/structure dates: 1893-1894 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 2008 Subsequent Work
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 85000022