Alma (1891) facts for kids
Alma under sail, c. 1900
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Builder | Fred Siemer |
| Launched | 1891 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage |
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| Length |
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| Beam | 22.6 ft (6.9 m) |
| Depth of hold | 4 ft (1.2 m) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
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Alma (Scow Schooner)
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Starboard view of scow schooner Alma Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
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 Location in California
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| Location | 2905 Hyde St. (Hyde St. Pier), San Francisco, California |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architect | Fred Siemer |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000179 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 10 October 1975 |
| Designated NHL | 7 June 1988 |
The Alma is a special kind of sailboat called a scow schooner. It was built way back in 1891. Today, it's kept safe as a National Historic Landmark at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in San Francisco, California.
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History of the Alma
The Alma is a unique flat-bottomed scow schooner. It was built in 1891 by Fred Siemer. His shipyard was in Hunters Point, San Francisco.
What is a Scow Schooner?
Scow schooners like the Alma were designed to carry goods. They worked on and around San Francisco Bay. Their flat bottoms helped them sail in shallow water. They could even go into the small creeks and rivers of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
These boats had strong hulls. This meant they could safely rest on the river bottom. Their flat shape also made them stable. This was great for loading and unloading cargo. Even though they had sails, they could also be pulled from the shore. Sometimes, people used poles to move them in very shallow areas.
Alma's Working Life
Until 1918, the Alma carried many different things. It hauled hay and lumber using its sails. After that, its sails were taken down. It was then used as a barge to carry salt.
In 1926, an engine was added to the Alma. It became a boat that collected oysters from the seafloor. It kept doing this job until 1957.
The Alma was built and used in San Francisco Bay. But its design was similar to scows used all over the United States. These included places like Chesapeake Bay and the Great Lakes. The Alma is the only scow schooner of its kind still floating in the U.S.
Becoming a Historic Treasure
In 1959, the State of California bought the Alma. Work to restore it began in 1964. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 10, 1975. This means it's an important historic site.
Later, in 1988, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This is an even higher honor. Today, the Alma is a cool exhibit at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. You can find it docked at the park's Hyde Street Pier.
