Seacliff
State Beach
Campground
California
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History of the Palo Alto, “the ship at the end of the pier” – a brief history from the Seacliff State Beach web site:
“Why is there a ship at the end of the pier?
Was it built there -- or did it sink there?
In 1910 a Norwegian civil engineer named Fougner thought of using concrete to build ships. It wasn't until 1917, when wartime steel shortages required the use of cement for construction that Fougner's idea was used. Three concrete ships were built at the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Oakland, California. These ships were the Faith, the Peralta, and the Palo Alto. The Peralta and the Palo Alto were built for wartime use as tankers, however World WarOne ended before ship construction was finished -- so they were never used.
The Palo Alto remained docked in Oakland until 1929, when the Cal-Nevada Company bought the ship with the idea of making her into an amusement and fishing ship. Her maiden voyage was made under tow to Seacliff State Beach. Once positioned at the beach, the sea cocks were opened and the Palo Alto settled to the ocean bottom. By the summer of 1930 a pier had been built leading to the ship, the ship was remodeled. A dance floor on the main deck was added, also a cafe in the superstructure was built, as was a fifty-four foot heated swimming pool, and a series of carnival type concessions were placed on the afterdeck. The Cal-Nevada Company went broke after two seasons -- then the Palo Alto was stripped, leaving the ship and the pier to be used only for fishing.”
The website sponsored by the California state park system is an excellent source for more information on Seacliff State Beach campground.
Visit the California State Beach website for Seacliff State Beach campground.
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