New York's Only Historic Steamship

LILAC is a 1933 lighthouse tender that once carried supplies to lighthouses and maintained buoys for the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard.  Decommissioned in 1972, she is now owned by the non-profit Lilac Preservation Project.  She is America's only surviving steam-powered lighthouse tender.  LILAC is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is eligible to become a National Historic Landmark,

You can help restore steam to the Hudson River by volunteering, making a donation, or coming by and learning more about the ship and maritime history. 

LILAC is opening early for the 2012 season with several events in April and May. Regular hours begin June 7.  The ship is open to the public from May to October for exhibits, tours, and other activities.

See LILAC and The River Project in the Oysters episode of Appetite City on NYC-TV

View a beautiful photo essay by Tony Larsen on the Tribeca Citizen blog