Vallejo (ferry) facts for kids
Vallejo during its time as a ferry between Mare Island and Vallejo
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| History | |
|---|---|
| Name |
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| Owner | Oregon & California Railroad |
| Launched | 1879 |
| General characteristics | |
| Length | 123.2 ft (37.6 m) |
| Beam | 31.5 ft (9.6 m) |
| Draft | 9.9 ft (3.0 m) |
| Installed power | 455 hp (339 kW) steam engine |
The Vallejo is a special houseboat located in Sausalito, California, United States. It started its life as a passenger ferry in Portland, Oregon, back in the late 1800s. It was known then as O&CRR Ferry No. 2.
After it was no longer needed in Portland, it moved to the San Francisco Bay in California. There, it worked as a ferry, carrying people between Vallejo and Mare Island. This continued until the end of World War II. Later, a group led by the artist Jean Varda bought the boat. They turned it into a houseboat. It became a famous spot for parties and gatherings for artists and thinkers in the 1960s and 1970s.
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History of the Vallejo Ferry
The Ferry No. 2 was first used by the Oregon & California Railroad. It helped people travel between East Portland and Downtown Portland. This 414-ton boat began service in 1879. It was brought in by Henry Villard to replace an older ferry.
There are different stories about where Ferry No. 2 was built. Some say it was built on the East Coast and sailed all the way around Cape Horn to Portland. Others believe it was built right there in Portland.
In 1888, the Steel Bridge was built in Portland. This meant the ferry was no longer needed for its original job. After several years of not being used, it was moved to the San Francisco Bay. It was renamed Vallejo by 1904. The boat was changed to use coal and then oil for fuel.
A document from 1923 shows that Robert Rauhauge of the Mare Island Line bought it. The Vallejo then started carrying workers and visitors. It traveled between the city of Vallejo and Mare Island. Ferry service stopped after World War II ended. A new causeway (a raised road) was built, connecting Mare Island and Vallejo. The Vallejo was the last ferry to stop working. It was sold in 1947 to be taken apart in Sausalito.
Restoring the Vallejo
Artist Jean Varda saw the boat while it was waiting to be scrapped. He, along with surrealist Gordon Onslow Ford and architect Forest Wright, decided to buy it. Wright later sold his share to Ford. They made many changes to the boat, using old materials they found nearby. They turned the boat into an art studio and a houseboat.
Ford said it became "a place where artists blossomed." He added that Varda made it a fun place for entertaining. In 1961, poet Elsa Gidlow and philosopher Alan Watts bought Ford's share of the houseboat. This was done through The Society For Comparative Philosophy. The ferry became the home for Alan and Jano Watts. It also hosted many meetings and parties for the Society.
The Houseboat Summit
A famous meeting on the Vallejo was called the "Houseboat Summit." Important thinkers like Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, and Alan Watts gathered there. They talked about different ways of living. You can read about this famous discussion in the counterculture magazine, the San Francisco Oracle.
Later Life of the Houseboat
The Vallejo started to get old and worn out during the 1960s. Jean Varda passed away suddenly in 1971, and Alan Watts in 1973. Even after Watts' death, discussions continued on the boat. From 1978, Alfred Sorensen, a mystic known as Sunyata, held weekly meetings there. He would answer questions from visitors.
Marian Saltman started living on the Vallejo in 1971. She arranged to buy it in 1981 and began to restore the boat. She hoped it would continue to be a home for interesting people and ideas. She also wished for it to help the creative and artistic needs of Sausalito and the Bay Area.
In 2000, the Vallejo was moved across the San Francisco Bay. It went to an Alameda shipyard for repairs. After the repairs, it returned to its dock in Sausalito. A new outer hull made of fiberglass was planned for installation. Today, the houseboat is a private home for international artists and creative people. It is not open for visitors.
