United States Coast Guard Ship Plans Collection (2000.01)

Historical note

The Oak and Hawthorn were two 160-foot buoy tenders built for the U.S. Lighthouse Services in 1921. The Oak was based out of St. George, Staten Island, and was decommissioned in 1964. It was then transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1967, where it later was put on display in the Museum of American History. The Hawthorn was based out of New London, Connecticut, and memorably came to aid during the collision of the Andrea Doria and the Stockholm in 1956. The Hawthorn was decommissioned in 1964 and sold in 1965.