One Last Trip for Wawona Parts

We made one last trip to Seattle today to bring home parts of the 1897 schooner Wawona. Northwest Seaport had given the Historical Seaport and other organizations objects salvaged from the historic vessel, which was broken up in 2009. Les Bolton, Kent Wall, and other members of the Seaport crew and volunteers have already brought back two loads of Wawona pieces, including a steam winch. This time, we picked up a section of the keel (the single large object over the axles in the photo), structural knees, chain plates (part of the standing rigging), and a partial bowsprit assembly. All the parts will eventually be incorporated into a display at the planned Seaport Landing facility on the Chehalis River.

The Spar Shop: On the Set of 'Water for Elephants'

OK, so the Spar Shop wasn't actually ON the set of 'Water for Elephants,' but we did help out by turning poles for the big top circus tent and animal menagerie tent that appears in the movie.

The Spar Shop turned out 122 Douglass-fir poles ranging from four inches to 12 inches in diameter and up to 52 feet in length in just under 28 days. We achieved the “distressed” look specified in the contract by using dull cutting tools. The Spar Shop also worked with Precision Pipe Fabricators in Aberdeen to manufacturer some of the hardware required by the production. The work was completed in April 2010.

Top photo: Steve Carr and Matt Bale install the ironwork on top of a "king pole," the center pole of the big top tent. Middle photo: Matt Bale trims the top off the king pole. Bottom photo: The poles loaded on a trailer for shipment to the producers.

Our poles also appeared on the cover of the current issue of Vogue magazine and in a video about the photo shoot for the cover. It's about as close as we'll ever get to Reese Witherspoon!

Fan Photo: Rigging as Wallpaper

One of our guests, Allen Boothe, had such a great time on our April 9 Coos Bay Battle Sail that he's using this photo as wallpaper on his computer. If you have a photo to share (for use as wallpaper or not), email it to photos@historicalseaport.org.

Fan Photos: Coos Bay Battle Sail

Guest Wayne Tonski sent us this photo of Hawaiian Chieftain firing on Lady Washington during a Battle Sail in Coos Bay. We had a great time in Coos Bay and can't wait to return! If you have a photo to share, send it to us a photos@historicalseaport.org.

Lost video of LW resurfaces in Coos Bay

A lost video (or, at least, a misplaced video) of Lady Washington has resurfaced, thanks to our friends at a Coos Bay community television station. Edwin Armstrong of Stack Armstrong Productions contacted us, saying he had a copy of a 1992 documentary about the history, construction, and first voyages of Lady Washington. Ed transferred the VHS video to DVD and sent it to us, and now it's available to the whole planet via YouTube. Whom do you recognize after 20 years?

Ray Gardner, Seaport friend, diagnosed with terminal lung disease

We learned today that Ray Gardner, a dear friend and supporter among Pacific Northwest native peoples, has been diagnosed with terminal lung disease. Over the years, Ray has helped us organize our traditional trade meeting with the Chinook Nation at the mouth of the Columbia River to give Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain permission to sail on the river and conduct business. Ray is scheduled to be an honored speaker at the bicentennial of Astoria, Ore., May 19-22, if his health permits. Our boats are scheduled to participate in a trade meeting on the river May 19.

"As the tribal Chair of the Chinook Nation, Ray has been a strong leader and advocate for his people," wrote Les Bolton, executive director of the Historical Seaport in an email to supporters. "He has helped us many times to reach out and connect with tribal members from around the region. He has taught us about traditions and that it is okay if we make mistakes, so long as our intent was honorable and we were acting out of  respect."

Ray is currently waiting for admission to a list of potential lung transplant recipients. We ask that you keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Ray can be reached via the Chinook Nation website. He also has a Facebook page.

Photos of Zodiac mast installation

Last week, the schooner Zodiac install the two masts turned by the Spar Shop earlier this year. Inez Wall sent these photos of the action in Bellingham. The main mast replaced one that split last September, and the foremast was due for replacement, so both were done at the same time. Here's an article in the Seattle Times about the installation. Congratulations to the Zodiac team!

Fan Photos: Two from Coos Bay

We had a blast--literally--in Coos Bay over the weekend. You can tell by the top photo of Lady Washington, submitted by Doug James, a guest on one of our Battle Sails. The Lady Washington has just fired a cannon. The misty lower photo of Hawaiian Chieftain was sent to us by Glenn Smith, another Battle Sail guest. If you have photos to share, send them to photos@historicalseaport.org.