Mr. Charlie designated Historic Landmark

WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced the designation of the Mr. Charlie Offshore Oil Rig in Morgan City as a new National Historic Landmark (NHLs), reflecting the importance of the site in sharing America’s diverse history.
“As America’s storyteller, it is our privilege at the Department at the Interior, through the National Park Service, to tell our nation’s history and honor the many historical chapters and heroic communities that brought us to where we are today,” said Secretary Haaland.
“Mr. Charlie joins a list of the nation’s premier historic and cultural places, all of which were nominated through voluntary and locally led stewardship.”
An NHL designation is the highest federal recognition of a property’s historical, architectural or archeological significance, and a testament to the dedicated stewardship of many private and public property owners who seek this designation.
Mr. Charlie joins a select group of over 2,600 nationally significant places that have exceptional value in illustrating the history and culture of the United States. NHL theme studies supported nominations and designations.
“The National Park Service is committed to helping preserve and share a fuller and more inclusive account of our nation’s history, a history that is not complete until all stories are represented,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “We are proud to recognize nationally significant places representing the diversity of the American experience and our country’s collective heritage.”
In addition to the new designations, the NPS has updated documentation for 14 current NHLs and has withdrawn designation of three NHLs because of demolition or destruction. View these changes on the NHL website.
For more information about these landmarks and the National Historic Landmarks Program, please visit https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalhistoriclandmarks
Mr. Charlie was the first, and the longest operating (1954-1986), Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) in the world capable of drilling for oil in waters up to 40 feet deep and was the first transportable, submersible, offshore, drilling rig.
The floating, portable oil rig with a submersible barge, was able to venture out to sea to reach vast, previously untapped underwater oil fields.
The rig was retired in 1986 and taken to the ODECO yard in Amelia. In 1993, the International Petroleum Museum and Exposition Inc. a non-profit corporation was formed to purchase the rig.
The International Petroleum Museum & Exposition, also known as the Rig Museum, is home to the historic drilling rig, the only place in the world where the general public can walk aboard an authentic offshore drilling rig.