Western Union (schooner) facts for kids
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| History | |
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 United States |
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| Owner | Western Union Thompson Fish Company; leased by the Western Union Telegraph Company |
| Builder | Herbert Elroy Arch, Thompson Enterprises, Key West, FL |
| Launched | 1939 |
| Owner | Vision Quest National, Ltd., Philadelphia |
| Acquired | 1984 |
| Renamed | New Way |
| Owner | Schooner Western Union Preservation Society, Key West, FL |
| Acquired | 1997 |
| Renamed | Western Union |
| General characteristics | |
| Sail plan | Schooner |
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Western Union (schooner)
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 Location in Florida
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| Location | Key West, Florida, USA |
| Built | 1938-39 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000930 |
| Added to NRHP | May 16, 1984 |
The Western Union is a famous schooner (a type of sailing ship) found in Key West, Florida, United States. It is docked at the Key West Bight on William Street. This ship is special because it is the last real working tall ship built in Florida that is still around.
On May 16, 1984, the Western Union was added to the US National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site. It is also the official flagship for both the State of Florida and the city of Key West.
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The Western Union Ship's Story
The Western Union was built in 1939 by Herbert Elroy Arch and Thompson Enterprises. Its main job was to be a "cable tender." This means it helped lay and fix undersea communication cables. These cables connected Florida cities, Caribbean islands, and South America.
The ship's frame was made from strong Cayman mahogany wood. Its outer planks were made from Longleaf yellow pine from Florida. It also had two engines to help it stay steady at sea. These engines made it easier to lay the long cables.
The Western Union took over from another schooner, the John W. Atkins, for cable work. Even though it was owned by a fish company, it was quickly leased to the Western Union Telegraph Co..
From 1939 to 1974, the schooner worked hard. It checked and repaired the signal cable from Key West to Cuba. It also laid undersea telegraph cables all over the Caribbean. In total, the Western Union laid over 30,000 miles (48,000 km) of undersea telegraph cable!
In 1974, the ship changed jobs. It was turned into a passenger vessel. For the next ten years, many people sailed on the Western Union. One famous passenger was the musician Jimmy Buffett.
In 1976, the Western Union sailed to New York City. It took part in Operation Sail, a big event for the United States Bicentennial (the 200th birthday of the USA). For this event, it was temporarily called La Amistad. This name honored the historical cargo ship La Amistad.
New Owners and a Movie Role
In 1984, the Western Union was sold to a group called Vision Quest National, Ltd. They were a non-profit organization in Philadelphia. The ship was renamed New Way. It was used for a special program to help young people who were having difficulties.
On May 16, 1984, the ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognized its historical importance.
In 1997, the ship got a starring role! It played the part of La Amistad in the 1997 Steven Spielberg movie Amistad.
Later in 1997, the ship had a chance to return to Key West. Historic Tours of America, a company in Key West, bought it. They gave it back its original name, Western Union. The ship then offered sunset cruises, day sails, and special charter trips. However, by early 2007, the company found it was losing money on these trips. They decided to sell the boat for $600,000.
Saving the Schooner
Theo Glorie, a local person who loved Key West, wanted to save the ship. He wanted to keep it in Key West. He started a non-profit group called the Schooner Western Union Preservation Society & Maritime Museum (SWUPS). This group's goal was to fix up and keep the historic schooner. They wanted the public to be able to sail on it as a "working, sailing museum." This would help people learn about Florida's history with the sea.
Many local leaders joined the Society's first board of directors. In October 2007, Historic Tours of America donated the historic schooner to SWUPS. The first big job for the Society was to restore the 70-year-old schooner. This was important so it could continue to be approved by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers safely.
Restoring the Western Union
In 2008, experts from the United States Coast Guard and a marine surveyor (someone who inspects ships) checked the Western Union. They found that the ship needed a huge amount of repair work. Even though it was 70 years old, it had never been fully restored before.
Because the Western Union is on the National Register of Historic Places, its restoration had to follow special rules. These rules ensure that historical vessels are repaired in a way that keeps their original look and feel.
Money for the restoration came from many places. Private citizens donated, as did the Monroe County Tourist Development Council and local businesses in Key West. The whole project was managed by a skilled shipbuilder named Leon Poindexter. His team had experience from rebuilding another famous ship, HMS Surprise, which was used in the movie Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World.
After a lot of hard work, the restoration was finished. In 2011, the United States Coast Guard gave the Western Union its final approval. This meant the ship could once again take passengers on sails.
However, in 2014, the ship failed another Coast Guard inspection. More repairs were needed and began again.
Where is the Western Union Today?
The Western Union spent some time undergoing repairs in Tarpon Springs, Florida. For many years, it was docked in the Key West Bight, a historic harbor.
By 2019, after some of the main restorers passed away, the vessel was towed back to Key West. It was missing its masts, spars (poles for sails), and railings. The ship is currently stored on land at Robbie’s Marina on Stock Island. It has been there since 2019.
See also
- List of schooners
