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, United States |
| Built | 1938-39 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000930 |
| Added to NRHP | May 16, 1984 |
The Western Union is a famous old schooner (a type of sailing ship) that you can find in Key West, Florida, United States. It's docked at the Key West Bight on William Street. This ship is special because it's the very last real working tall ship that was built in Florida and is still around today.
On May 16, 1984, the Western Union was added to the US National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. It's also the official flagship for both the State of Florida and the city of Key West.
Contents
History of the Western Union Schooner
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 to lay and fix important communication cables under the sea. These cables connected Florida cities to islands in the Caribbean and even to South America.
The ship was built with strong materials. Its frame was made from Cayman mahogany wood, and its outer planks were from Longleaf yellow pine found in Florida. It also had two engines. These engines helped the ship stay steady in the water, which was very important when laying delicate cables.
Early Days as a Cable Ship
The Western Union was built to replace an older schooner called the John W. Atkins. Both ships worked on maintaining undersea telegraph cables. Even though the Western Union was owned by the Western Union Thompson Fish Company, it was quickly leased to the Western Union Telegraph Co..
From 1939 to 1974, the schooner had a very important job. It checked and repaired the signal cable that ran from Key West to Cuba. It also laid new undersea telegraph cables all over the Caribbean Sea. In total, the Western Union laid over 30,000 miles (48,000 km) (about 48,000 km) of these vital cables!
From Cables to Passengers
In 1974, the Western Union changed its purpose. It was no longer a cable ship but was turned into a passenger vessel. For the next ten years, many people enjoyed trips on the ship. One famous person who sailed on it was the musician Jimmy Buffett.
In 1976, the Western Union traveled to New York City. It took part in an event called Operation Sail, which was part of the United States Bicentennial celebrations. This event celebrated 200 years since the United States was founded. For this special occasion, the Western Union was temporarily renamed La Amistad. This was done to honor the historic cargo ship La Amistad.
New Owners and a Movie Role
In 1984, the Western Union was sold to a non-profit group in Philadelphia called Vision Quest National, Ltd. They renamed the ship New Way. This group used the vessel for a program that helped young people who were having difficulties. It was during this time, on May 16, 1984, that the ship was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1997, the ship got a chance to be in a movie! It played the role of La Amistad in the 1997 Steven Spielberg film called Amistad. Later that same year, the ship had the opportunity to return to Key West. Historic Tours of America (HTA), a company in Key West, bought it. HTA gave the ship its original name back, Western Union. They used it for sunset cruises, day sails, and private trips.
However, by early 2007, HTA announced they were losing money on the ship. They decided to put it up for sale for $600,000.
Saving the Schooner
A local person named Theo Glorie, who owned The Coffee Plantation, decided he wanted to try and save the ship and 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 restore and protect the historic schooner. They wanted it to be a sailing museum where people could experience Florida's seafaring history.
Many community leaders joined Glorie to help. In October 2007, HTA generously donated the historic schooner to SWUPS. The first big job for the new group was to restore the 70-year-old schooner. This was necessary so it could continue to be approved by the United States Coast Guard to carry passengers safely as a working museum.
Restoration of the Western Union
In 2008, experts from a marine surveyor and the United States Coast Guard inspected the Western Union. They found that the ship needed a very big restoration project. For its 70 years of age, the ship had never been fully restored before.
Because the Western Union is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the restoration work had to follow special rules. These rules ensure that historical vessels are preserved correctly. Money for the restoration came from many sources. Private citizens, the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, and local Key West businesses all contributed.
The restoration project was managed by a skilled shipbuilder named Leon Poindexter. His company, Seaport Vessels, LLC, oversaw the work. Poindexter and his team had experience with similar projects, like rebuilding the HMS Surprise for the movie Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World.
After a lot of hard work, the extensive restoration project was finished. In 2011, the United States Coast Guard gave its final approval after inspecting the ship. This meant the Western Union could start taking passengers on sails again. However, after another inspection in 2014, more repairs were needed, and work began once more.
Current Operations
The Western Union is currently undergoing repairs in Tarpon Springs, Florida at the Marpro Shipyard. For many years, the ship was docked off William Street in the Key West Bight, which is a historic seaport. It often participated in the annual Lighted Boat Parade in Key West Harbor, where boats are decorated with lights.
Images for kids
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The Western Union returning to Key West in 1985
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Western Union docked in Key West harbor, 2006.
