Governor Stone (schooner) facts for kids
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Name | Governor Stone |
| Launched | 1877 in Pascagoula, Mississippi |
| Fate | Capsized during Hurricane Michael, October 10, 2018; awaiting restoration |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 14.6 GRT 12 NRT |
| Length |
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| Beam | 12.6 ft (3.8 m) |
| Draft | 3.9 ft (1.2 m) |
| Depth of hold | 3.3 ft (1.0 m) |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
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Governor Stone (schooner)
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Panama City, Florida, USA |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1877 |
| NRHP reference No. | 91002063 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 4 December 1991 |
| Designated NHL | 4 December 1992 |
Governor Stone is a really old and special schooner. It's a type of sailing ship with two masts. This ship was built way back in 1877 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. It's super unique because it's the only two-masted cargo schooner from the Gulf Coast that's still around. It's also one of only five such ships built in the United States that still exist.
Because it's so important, the Governor Stone was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. A year later, it was named a US National Historic Landmark. Today, you can find it at Saint Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida. A group of people work hard to keep it in good shape. You can even go on sailing tours!
Contents
What is the Governor Stone Like?
The Governor Stone has a strong wooden hull. It is about 39 feet (12 m) long. The ship is 12.6 feet (3.8 m) wide. The inside storage area is 3.3 feet (1.0 m) deep.
The ship's main beam, called the keel, is made of pine. Its frame is cypress wood. The deck and other finished parts are made from pine and juniper.
Sails and Design
The Governor Stone has two tall pine masts. One mast is 38.8 feet (11.8 m) long. The other is 39.8 feet (12.1 m) long. It also has a topmast, making it 52 feet (16 m) tall.
The way the ship is built is typical for Gulf Coast schooners from the late 1800s. It has a small cabin at the back, called a poop deck. The rest of the deck has openings, or hatches, to get to the cargo area below.
A Journey Through Time: The Ship's History
The Governor Stone was built in 1877 for a merchant named Charles Greiner. He named the ship after John Marshall Stone. He was the Governor of Mississippi at that time.
Greiner used the ship to carry supplies to larger ships. These bigger ships were waiting outside the harbor. Later, other owners used the ship to buy fresh oysters from fishermen. They would then bring the oysters to shore.
Surviving Storms and Changes
The Governor Stone has faced many challenges. In 1906, a hurricane flipped it over and pushed it onto land. But people were able to get it back into the water! In 1939, it sank during another storm. Again, it was saved and brought back up.
After this, the ship was renamed Queen of the Fleet. It started taking tourists on fun trips in DeLisle, Mississippi. During World War II, the ship was used for training. It helped teach sailors at the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
Over the years, the ship had different owners and names. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was carefully fixed up and restored.
New Homes and Future Plans
In 2003, the Governor Stone became part of Eden Gardens State Park. However, the water there was too shallow for the ship. It moved to Sandestin for a short time. Then it went to Bay County.
In 2007, the schooner was moved to a marina in Fort Walton Beach. Finally, in 2014, it found its current home. It is now at the St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida.
In October 2018, a very strong storm called Hurricane Michael hit. The Governor Stone capsized, or flipped over, at its dock. A group called "Friends of the Governor Stone" is working hard to raise money. They want to save the ship and fix it so it can sail again.
