Alma (1891)

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ALMA (Scow Schooner)
(U.S. National Historic Landmark)
Starboard view of scow schooner Alma Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
Starboard view of scow schooner Alma Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
Location: 2905 Hyde St. (Hyde St. Pier), San Francisco, California
Coordinates: 37°48′34.47″N 122°25′15.08″W / 37.809575, -122.4208556Coordinates: 37°48′34.47″N 122°25′15.08″W / 37.809575, -122.4208556
Built/Founded: 1891
Architect: Fred Siemer
Architectural style(s): Other
Designated as NHL: June 07, 1988[1]
Added to NRHP: October 10, 1975[2]
NRHP Reference#: 75000179
Governing body: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The Alma is an 1891 built scow schooner, which is now preserved as a National Historic Landmark at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park in San Francisco, California.

Contents

[edit] History of the Alma

Historic picture of the Alma under sail, taken about 1900
Historic picture of the Alma under sail, taken about 1900

The Alma is a flat-bottomed scow schooner built in 1891 by Fred Siemer at his shipyard at Hunters Point in San Francisco. Like the many other local scow schooners of that time, she was designed to haul goods on and around San Francisco Bay. Able to navigate the shallow creeks and sloughs of the Sacramento and San Joaquin River Delta, the scows’ strong, sturdy hulls could rest safely and securely on the bottom and provided a flat, stable platform for loading and unloading. Whilst principally designed as sailing vessels, scow schooners could also be hauled from the bank or poled in the shallows of the delta.

Until 1918, the Alma hauled a variety of cargoes under sail, including hay and lumber. Thereafter she was demasted and used as salt carrying barge. In 1926 a gasoline engine was installed, and the Alma became an oyster dredger, remaining in this trade until 1957.

In 1959, the Alma was purchased by the State of California and restoration commenced in 1964. In 1988, she was designated a National Historic Landmark.[1][3] She is now one of the exhibits of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and is to be found moored at the park's Hyde Street Pier.

[edit] General characteristics

  • Gross tonnage: 41 tons (41.6 tonnes)
  • Overall length: 80 ft (24.4 m)
  • Registered length: 59 ft (18 m)
  • Beam: 22.6 ft (6.9 m)
  • Depth: 4 ft (1.2 m)
  • Height of foremast: 67 ft (20.4 m)

[edit] External links

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ a b ALMA (Scow). National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved on 2008-02-13.
  2. ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
  3. ^ James P. Delgado and Kevin J. Foster (July 1, 1987), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Scow Schooner Alma / AlmaPDF (32 KB), National Park Service  and Accompanying 5 images, from c.1971 and undatedPDF (32 KB)