Wawona (schooner) facts for kids
Wawona, 2009
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Builder | Hans Ditlev Bendixsen, near Eureka, California |
| Out of service | 1948 |
| Fate | Dismantled, 2009 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Fore-and-aft schooner |
| Length | 165 feet (50 m) |
| Beam | 35 feet (11 m) |
| Draft | 12 feet (3.7 m) |
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Wawona (schooner)
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Wawona, 2007, needing major restoration
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| Location | Seattle, Washington |
| Built | 1897 |
| Architect | Hans Bendixsen |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000643 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 1 July 1970 |
The Wawona was a large American sailing ship. It had three masts and was a type of ship called a schooner. It sailed for 50 years, from 1897 to 1947. The Wawona was used to carry lumber and also to fish. It was based in an area called Puget Sound in Washington state.
This ship was one of the last of its kind. It was a sailing schooner that carried lumber. These ships moved wood from places like Washington, Oregon, and Northern California to San Francisco.
The Wawona was built in 1897 near Eureka, California. This was on a bay called Humboldt Bay. The ship's builder was Hans Ditlev Bendixsen. He was a very important shipbuilder on the West Coast in the late 1800s. The Wawona was about 165 feet (50 m) long. It was also 35-foot (11 m) wide. Its tall masts reached 110 feet (34 m) into the sky.
Later in its life, the Wawona was docked in Seattle. It was near the Center for Wooden Boats. The ship was recognized as an important historical site. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also a city landmark in Seattle. Sadly, the ship became too old and damaged. Efforts to fix it did not work. So, the Wawona was taken apart in March 2009.
In 2012, an artist named John Grade used parts of the ship. He made a huge 65 feet (20 m) sculpture. It was called Wawona and is in Seattle's Museum of History & Industry. Wood from the ship was also used for the museum's front desk. It was even used for the bar at the museum's cafe.
Contents
The Wawona's Journey
Carrying Lumber
From 1897 to 1913, the Wawona had an important job. It carried lumber from ports in Grays Harbor and Puget Sound. This wood was taken to different places in California. One of the ship's captains was Ralph E. "Matt" Peasley. He was so interesting that he inspired a series of popular adventure novels.
Fishing for Cod
After its lumber days, the Wawona became a fishing ship. From 1914 to 1947, it sailed to the Bering Sea. This was a very cold and often stormy area. The ship had a crew of 36 people. Their main goal was to fish for cod. The only time it stopped fishing was during World War II. In 1935, a sad event happened. The captain, Charles Foss, died while steering the ship. This happened during a big storm in the Aleutian Islands.
Efforts to Save the Ship
In 1964, the Wawona had been retired for 16 years. A group of people in Seattle wanted to save it. They formed a group called Northwest Seaport. They bought the Wawona to turn it into a museum ship. This meant people could visit the schooner. Work was done to restore it over many years.
In 2006, the ship's tall masts had to be taken down. This was done to keep everyone safe. The ship was getting very old and worn out.
The End of the Wawona
In early 2009, a sad announcement was made. The Wawona would be taken to a special dry dock. There, it would be taken apart on March 2. Some parts of the ship were saved. They became museum pieces so people could still see them.
The Wawona was moved to the Lake Union Drydock on March 4, 2009. There, it was carefully dismantled. Today, only one other West Coast lumber sailing ship remains. It is called the C.A. Thayer. As of 2018, this ship is in San Francisco. It is being restored by the National Park Service. This restoration costs millions of dollars and takes many years.
