Wawona (schooner) facts for kids
Wawona, 2009
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| History | |
|---|---|
 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
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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 famous American ship with three masts. It was a type of sailing ship called a schooner. From 1897 to 1947, it carried lumber and caught fish in the Puget Sound area.
This ship was one of the last sailing schooners that carried lumber. It sailed from Washington, Oregon, and Northern California to San Francisco. The Wawona was a symbol of the Pacific Northwest's rich history of ships and the sea.
After 50 years of sailing, the ship was stored away. In 1963, people started trying to save it. A group called Northwest Seaport bought the Wawona in 1964. For 45 years, it was a museum ship in Seattle at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). It was docked at Lake Union Park.
People worked hard to fix the ship. But sadly, it became too damaged by rot and beetles. It could not be repaired anymore. The Wawona was taken apart in 2009. Some of its wood and steel were used to create a sculpture at the MOHAI in 2012. This artwork helps keep its memory alive.
Contents
The Wawona's Story
The Wawona was built in 1897 near Eureka, California. It was made on Humboldt Bay by a skilled shipbuilder named Hans Ditlev Bendixsen. He was very important for building ships on the West Coast in the late 1800s.
The ship was made from strong Douglas Fir wood. It was about 165 feet (50 m) long. Its width, called the beam, was 35 feet (11 m). The tall masts reached 110 feet (34 m) into the sky. The captain's cabin was built extra strong. This was to protect it if lumber shifted on the deck.
Carrying Lumber
From 1897 to 1913, the Wawona worked as a lumber carrier. It transported wood from ports like Grays Harbor and Puget Sound. The lumber was taken to different places in California. One of its captains, Ralph E. "Matt" Peasley, was so interesting that he inspired many popular adventure novels.
Fishing for Cod
In 1914, the Wawona was changed to become a fishing vessel. From 1914 until 1947, it sailed to the cold Bering Sea. A crew of 36 people would go to catch cod fish. During World War II, the ship was used for a short time as a military barge.
In 1935, its captain, Charles Foss, sadly died while steering the ship. This happened during a big storm in the Aleutian Islands. The Wawona's time at sea officially ended in 1948.
A Museum Ship
Sixteen years after the ship stopped sailing, a group of people in Seattle wanted to save it. In 1964, they formed Northwest Seaport. They bought the Wawona to make it a museum ship. It was docked at the Museum of History & Industry's pier. This pier is located at South Lake Union Park.
The park has other important historical ships. It is also next to the Center for Wooden Boats. This center teaches people about maritime history. The Wawona was open for visitors while it was being restored.
The Wawona was recognized as a special historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was also on the Washington State Heritage Register. The city of Seattle made it an official landmark. The ship's original designs are kept safe in the Library of Congress.
The Ship's Final Years
Since 1964, many people worked hard to save the Wawona. Volunteers spent thousands of hours. There were many efforts to raise money. But there was never enough money to fully repair the ship.
By 2005, the ship had serious problems. Water got inside, and then beetles infested the wood. It would have cost about $15 million to fix it completely. So, a difficult decision was made to take the ship apart. Some parts, like the captain's cabin, were saved.
The Wawona was moved to the Lake Union Drydock on March 4, 2009. It was then carefully dismantled a few days later. Many features of the ship were saved. These preserved pieces are now part of the museum.
Today, the only other large sailing ship from the West Coast lumber trade is the C.A. Thayer. It is docked in San Francisco.
A Museum Sculpture
After the Wawona was taken apart, the MOHAI asked an artist named John Grade to create something new. He used the saved materials from the ship. Grade made a huge sculpture, 65 feet (20 m) tall, called Wawona. It stands in the middle of the Grand Atrium at the MOHAI. The sculpture goes through the museum's floor and above its roof.
Wood from the ship was also used for other things. It became the museum's front desk. It also made the bar at the museum's Compass Cafe.
See also
- Northwest Seaport
- United States lightship Swiftsure (LV-83)
- Arthur Foss
- Historic preservation
- National Register of Historic Places
- List of schooners
