This winter's especially powerful surf has shifted part of the fractured SS Palo Alto, causing pieces of it to break off and fall into the pounding waves. The concrete ship SS Palo Alto on Seacliff State Beach, California. (Capitola Historical Museum collection), The stern of the SS Palo Alto was broken from the rest of the cement ship at Rio Del Mar in Aptos on Saturday. Sunset silhouette of the SS Palo Alto, at Seacliff State Beack, Santa Cruz, California. After an oil leak from the tanker was cleaned up in 2017, Griggs doesn’t believe the ship poses any ecological danger. Naval Shipyard in Oakland, California. While some have called for the state to breakup and remove the ship as it continues to degrade, Griggs said removal costs would reach into the millions if not tens of millions of dollars. Leaving the town behind, we immediately moved towards Seacliff State Beach.. We walked a bit around the businesses clustered at the entrance of the beach area. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The Cement Ship near the pier appeared to settle further on Thursday. We're looking for high-resolution images that reflect the beauty of Northern California, and that show off your unique talents. Having failed to see service in the war, the Palo Alto languished in the U.S. Navy Shipyard in Oakland for more than a decade until the Seacliff Amusement Corp. bought the ship in 1929. The SS Palo Alto sits battered by last winter's storms at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos on Friday afternoon. The SS Palo Alto in 1921. While the S. S. Atlantus may be the most famous concrete ship on the east coast, the S. S. Palo Alto ("The Cement Boat") is the most famous concrete ship on the west coast. “It’s a historical relic, let’s just let it be there.”. The SS Palo Alto, more commonly known as the "Cement Ship," has been at Seacliff State Beach for the past 86 years (Mikaela Byers -- Santa Cruz Sentinel). The condition of the ship faltered further forcing a temporary closure from 1983 until 1988. SS PALO ALTO . Instead it was towed to Seacliff Beach in 1930 and used briefly as an amusement ship. CLICK HERE TO TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS. Her maiden voyage was made under tow to Seacliff State Beach. 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. “So the corporation decided to buy the ship and have it outfitted as a casino,” Hibble said. 2 shots merged to vert pano. The only problem being that every time they built a pier, it was destroyed by sea swells and storms. Post it right away using our free Neighbor Post feature on the site or email it to courtney.teague@patch.com. SS Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I. Buy Photo. The pier is planned to reopen on Saturday as the decaying cement ship continues to settle. By the time this photo was taken a decade or so later; it had cracked in half and was used primarily by fishermen. 13 Idaho State, MVC alumna Delaney Moore | Women’s NCAA Tournament, Photo | Welcome back message greets students returning to school, Santa Cruz Cinema takes over downtown Regal 9 theater, Name Dropping | Science, engineering fair names winners, Chisem builds his dream palace | Local History, Ross Eric Gibson, State denies parole to Santa Cruz serial killer, Photo | House on the hill overlooks Scotts Valley, Isaiah Velez helps Scotts Valley run over Soquel | SCCAL Football Roundup, With vaccine supply increasing, Santa Cruz residents 50 to 64 could be prioritized in April, Santa Cruz police to investigate racism claim, Qwentin Brown, Santa Cruz storm past Watsonville in opener | SCCAL Football, Opportunistic Aptos jumps on MVC in season opening rout | SCCAL Football. State Park rangers were forced to close the pier due to the large surf. Visitors were once able to access the "Cement Ship" from the fishing pier. The ship is located at Sea Cliff State Park in Aptos California. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel file), The S.S. Palo Alto, also known as the Cement Ship, has been battered by storms in January. Scarborough said the ship functions as a valuable habitat for seabirds, sharks, rockfish, sea lions and other creatures, not to mention its historical value and persistence as a symbol of Aptos and Seacliff. The SS Palo Alto, a concrete tanker that was launched May 29, 1919, was purchased and turned into an amusement pier, and is still visible at Seacliff State Beach, near Aptos, California 36°58′11″N 121°54′50″W / 36.969704°N 121.913947°W / 36.969704; -121.913947 [24] It broke up during a January 2017 An entrepreneur who built and broke monopolies in the sugar, railroad, banking, newspaper and beer brewing industries, Spreckels owned nearly all of southern Santa Cruz County where he raised some of the finest thoroughbred horses of his day. Her sister ship was the SS Peralta. Seacliff State Beach invites the community to celebrate the Cement Ship Centennial from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday with living history re-enactors, historical music and dance lessons, prize raffle, kids crafts and games, Agents of Discovery Mobile Game with prizes for first 100 winners, food sold by Taquitos Gabriel and more. The Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at the U.S. By 1932, the Seacliff Amusement Corp. was bankrupt, damaged by the ravages of the seasonality of their business combined with The Great Depression. “If you were to choose a logo for Aptos, there is nothing so unique as the SS Palo Alto,” said John Hibble, a local historian. The SS Palo Alto had a concrete sister ship, the SS Peralta, also built as an oil tanker for the war effort, but that never saw service. Launched on May 29, 1919, too late to see service in the war, the ship was mothballed in Oakland until 1929, when she was bought by the Seacliff Amusement Corporation and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California. It was such a thrill.”. James Ricci (Atlas Obscura User) As the SS Palo Alto is finally washed away into the … Continually buffeted by winter storms, the foredeck closed down in 1958. Describe your image. Naval Shipyard in Oakland, California. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The Seacliff pier leading to the cement ship lost a number of pilings in recent storm surf and remains closed with no reopening date in sight, according to State Park Supervisor Ron Callison. The SS Palo Alto at Seacliff in 1931, when it was an entertainment ceneter. “There’s a buoy off shore that recorded some of the largest waves ever seen at the location,” Griggs said. GET BREAKING NEWS IN YOUR BROWSER. We took one of the exits towards the town of Aptos. When he died in 1908, Fred Summers, a Pomona businessman, bought a huge swath of property in what is now Aptos with an idea of developing the real estate for wealthy San Francisco people who wanted a seaside spot or those looking to live full time beside the Monterey Bay. Its entertainment offerings weren’t even dented by Prohibition, which technically disallowed the sales of alcohol from 1920 until 1933. 4 seed Kentucky ousts No. Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel
Humans flock to the SS Palo Alto, commonly known as the Cement Ship, at Seacliff State Beach to witness what looks like an avian invasion on Thursday. (Dan Ingalls -- Contributed), The SS Palo Alto cement ship bow shifts and continues to break up as it gets hit by large waves Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Aptos, Calif. The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset. Today she remains at Seacliff Beach and serves as an artificial reef for marine life. 'Something Going On' by Cement Ship performed on December 18, 2019 during a fundraiser for a girls shelter in Malawi, Africa. Recorded live on Seacliff Beach overlooking the SS Palo Alto. “It’s a great history and it brings back fond memories,” she said. When the Seacliff Corp. took over, it wanted to build a gigantic pier into the ocean to provide the entertainment component to their development. SS Palo Alto (Image credit: Google) This famous concrete tanker was made to fight the Central Powers during World War I, but the war ended before it could enter battle. Palo Alto at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California. Officials say they have no plans to stop the erosion that will eventually turn the ship into habitat for sea life. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel). The SS Palo Alto is one of the country's only surviving ships that was made out of concrete. The corporation was the brainchild of a collection of enterprising individuals who sought to develop the potential of Aptos and its proximity to the spectacular Central Coast. the ship is now broken into several pieces. Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz Public Libraries
The SS Palo Alto off Seacliff State Beach about 1933. ship in sun 2010. “It’s broken up now but it did pretty well for a century,” he said. Photo by Giancarlo Thomae. Naval Shipyard in Oakland. Sun Sets Above SS Palo Alto: Photos Of The Week - Watsonville, CA - Patch loves photos! Despite near constant deterioration for the last century in which an onslaught of storms has pummeled the boat culminating in the January 2017 incident where the stern tore off and keeled over, the ship is near to the heart of residents and visitors. “For those that say it’s an eyesore and want it removed I have three answers: no, no and no,” he said. Eventually the condition of the ship deteriorated to the point where it was unsafe for even this use and was closed to the public. The SS Palo Alto listing starboard into the ocean following heavy storms in early 2016. Intended as an oil tanker; the reinforced concrete ship never hauled as much as a gallon of oil. “When my kids were little, we used to be able to walk out on the ship. Some partners do not ask for your consent to process your data, instead, they rely on their legitimate business interest. Since then, the SS Palo Alto has become further entrenched in the seafloor at the end of the pier. She was built by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Oakland, California. As suspected, concrete was not the most ideal material to build ships with. Live at Shanty Shack Brewing in Santa Cruz, California. Photo by Veronica Weber/Palo Alto Online. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. ship. The SS Palo Alto cement ship bow shifts and continues to break up as it gets hit by large waves Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Aptos, Calif. Furthermore, a crack had appeared in the ship after a particularly fierce winter in the early 1930s and the corporation had had enough. 4 seed Kentucky ousts No. The Palo Alto was built as an oil tanker by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in … (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel) (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), Sunset over the Cement Ship at Seacliff State Beach. Recent El Nino storms are battering the landmark concrete ship long ago beached on the California coast, officials said Wednesday. SS Palo Alto is a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I. Once positioned at the beach, the sea cocks were opened and the Palo Alto settled to the ocean bottom. Jon Weiand/Sentinel
Athletes compete in the swim leg of the 27th Annual Sandman Triathlon as they pass the SS Palo Alto at Seacliff State Beach Sunday. Click on a photo for a larger version (Courtesy of John Campbell) Related Links. The Palo Alto’s renovations included a 54 by 154 ft. dance floor, a 54 ft. heated swimming pool, a café, and carnival type concessions. “The rum runners loved it as they would just pull up beside the ship and offload the booze right there,” Hibble said. SS Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I.She was built by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at the U.S. In 1936, the state of California bought the SS Palo Alto for $1. The Palo Alto was sunk off the Rio Del Mar beach years ago. Waves as high as 34 feet rolled through the bay during the days surrounding the breakup. Photo courtesy of Santa Cruz Public Libraries The SS Palo Alto off Seacliff State Beach about 1933. The basic problem with concrete ships is that they require a very thick hull to be as strong as a steel ship. “When you walk by you can tell the tide by the watermarks on its sides.”. By 1930, the corporation bought the ship, had it towed down from Oakland and scuttled it on the seafloor while building a pier leading to the ship. A pier was built leading to the ship, and she was sunk a few feet in the water so her keel rested on the bottom. Share your photos with Patch, and your work could be featured. SS Palo Alto. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The SS Palo Alto is engulfed by the sea at Rio Del Mar in Aptos on Saturday after powerful waves broke the stern from the rest of the boat. APTOS — Living a stone’s throw from Seacliff State Beach for 35 years, Nancy Scarborough barely misses a day in walking her two dogs Benson and Cody to the beach cliffs and the expansive view of the Cement Ship set against the blue waters of Monterey Bay. Maria Tavenier holds up the porcelain bear her father, Gijsbertus Van Halm, found upon leaving the Dachau concentration camp, which he … When the waves would hit the ship it would send gusts of wind through the grate. Zaferes led wire to wire to win the mens race. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), After taking a pounding from the recent storm surf, the cement ship stern has shifted more than 10 feet to the East with the deck listing at more than a 10-degree angle. Name Dropping | Science, engineering fair names winners She was launched on 29 May 1919, too late to see service in the war. SS Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I. The most recent blow, separated the stern from the rest of the ship in January 2017, after a particularly strong swell hit the coast with unusual ferocity. It all started one cold and chilly Saturday morning. Aerial view of Stanford University Campus - Palo Alto, California, USA. SS Palo Alto. (Dan Coyro/Sentinel), A surfer rides a muddied wave in front of the broken, storm-tossed stern of the cement ship Tuesday morning. Chisem builds his dream palace | Local History, Ross Eric Gibson. (Dan Ingalls -- Contributed), The Cement Ship lists to its side. approved an emergency fleet of ships made fromsteel-reinforced concrete S. S. Palo Alto. Ohio college student dies after alleged fraternity hazing incident ‘Buy … Filmed by Matt Olsen. By 1930, the SS Palo Alto was a "pleasure ship," complete with a pool, ballroom, cafe and various carnival concessions. (Dan Coyro/Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP). The SS Palo Alto at Rio Del Mar in Aptos was pummeled by waves on Saturday, causing the stern of the cement ship to break off. The Seacliff Corp. sold off the steel and engine parts while stripping other components and even packing up the dance floor and putting it on the open market. August 2, 2017 Santa Clara/CA/USA - Palo Alto Networks HQ building ... SS Palo Alto Starboard sunset. Despite owning the ship, the state didn’t take possession of Seacliff State Beach until 1948, making it one of the first state beaches incorporated into the state’s portfolio of parks. Photo credit: David Wan/Flickr. “It was a good idea, just really poor timing,” Hibble said. In the summer of 1930, 3,000 people attended the opening of the ship’s Rainbow Ballroom, which featured famous big … Large waves break at the Cement Ship Pier at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos on January 5, 2016. “There’s no dangers, no problems,” he said. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. SS Palo Alto One of my favorite things to see and places to visit is the pier leading out to the SS Palo Alto. The SS Palo Alto at Seacliff in 1931, when it … By this time, the SS Palo Alto not only boasted a casino but featured a dancehall, a swimming pool and a restaurant. Built in 1918 as an oil tanker designed to refuel other warcraft at sea during World War I, the SS Palo Alto, along with her sister ship the SS Peralta, were launched in May 1919 only months before the war ended. 48 likes. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel file), The cement ship was accessible to fishermen and pedestrians in 1993. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The SS Palo Alto at Rio Del Mar in Aptos was pummeled by waves on Saturday, causing the stern of the cement ship to break off. Photos. “You can look out there and it’s got like 10 different blowholes,” he said. A beachgoer walks near the 96-year-old "Cement Ship" at Seacliff State Beach (Mikaela Byers -- Santa Cruz Sentinel). The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset. A standup paddler and personnel aboard a lifeguard boat search around the cement ship at Seacliff State Beach Wednesday. Sun Sets Above SS Palo Alto: Photos Of The Week Courtney Teague 8/12/2020. Throughout the latter half of the 19th century, much of Aptos was owned by Claus Spreckels, who some historians have pinned as the most successful German-American immigrant businessman of the 19th century. 2,035 palo alto stock photos are available royalty-free. The bow of the ship is shifting and breaking apart in the face of recent storm surf. Gross Tonnage: 6,144 Net Tonnage: 3,696 Dimensions: 128.02 meters x 16.46 m x 10,67 m. Engine: T.3-cyl., 359 nhp, Llewellyn Iron Works, Los Angeles, 1 screw. You don't need to be a photojournalist to take a great picture on your cell phone. If there is one image that identifies Aptos, California it would have to be that of The SS Palo Alto (the Cement Boat), the sunken concrete ship on the shore of Seacliff State Beach.A lot of people wonder how the ship got there – and it’s an interesting story. “It’s just so heavy and it’s buried in the sand,” he said. The company went bankrupt two years later and the ship cracked at the midsection. A Cement Ship Sunset: Photos Of The Week - Santa Cruz, CA - Patch loves photos! There once was a dancing venue, several places to get a bite to eat and, of course, there was fishing. Gary Griggs, professor of Earth Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, said the ship has held up well considering its age. U.S.S. (Vern Fisher - Monterey Herald), Visitors at Seacliff State Beach watch as the cement ship S.S. Palo Alto gets battered by large waves Thursday. Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel
Tommy Zaferes has the water to himself as he strokes past birds roosting on the Cement Ship during the swim leg of the Sandman Triathlon at Seacliff State Beach on Sunday. Concrete is durable, but once the steel rebar becomes exposed, it’s susceptible to rust and breakage. The Powell River's Giant Hulks; Vital Statistics. Seacliff State Beach, Aptos Picture: SS Palo Alto - Check out Tripadvisor members' 1,439 candid photos and videos of Seacliff State Beach A pier was built connecting it to the shore. The SS Palo Alto, mistakenly known as the Cement Ship (it’s actually made of concrete), will celebrate 100 years as the guardian of Seacliff Beach as it faces perpetually out to sea. She was launched on 29 May 1919, too late to see service in the war. SS Palo Alto was built by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at the U.S. The permanent prohibition was handed down in 1998, but many residents remember the times when you could clamber around the scuttled watercraft. Describe your image. SS Palo Alto, Aptos, California. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, After one year of Canada and Mexico border closures, pressure grows for White House to issue reopening guidelines, House Dems eye ‘kitchen sink’ for next big bill. It was designed to save on metal during World War I. Describe your image. (Shmuel Thaler -- Santa Cruz Sentinel file), “The ship is a cool thing for us, it contains a lot of memories,” Scarborough said. George Wolfe has lived in Aptos for 40 years and also loves the ship — not only for its historical evocation, but for the scenery it continues to provide. 13 Idaho State, MVC alumna Delaney Moore | Women’s NCAA Tournament Photo by Daniel Bragg. (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The Cement Ship at Seacliff State Beach. If there is one image that identifies Aptos, California it would have to be that of The SS Palo Alto (the Cement Boat), the sunken concrete ship on the shore of Seacliff State Beach.A lot of people wonder how the ship got there – and it’s an interesting story. It was transformed into a fishing pier, extremely popular with local anglers. The S.S. Palo Alto, a cement ship at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, has taken a pounding and now the pier leading to the tourist magnet has been closed. A man fishes from the cement ship on January 29, 1993. Over the years many violent storms have battered the ship and pier causing much damage. IMG_2032_edited. No. We and our partners process personal data such as IP Address, Unique ID, browsing data for: Use precise geolocation data | Actively scan device characteristics for identification.. ... featuring local landmark SS Palo Alto … (Fred Arellano -- Contributed), On May 29; 1919; the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company launched the 434-foot “Palo Alto” at Government Island; Oakland. (Shmuel Thaler/Sentinel), Holly Johnson, wife of Aptos High Principal Casey O'Brien, leaves a note at the Seacliff pier memorial for Aptos High student Nathan Phillips, whose body was found in the water next to the cement ship last Thursday. There she was refitted as an amusement ship, with amenities including a dance floor, a swimming pool and a cafÈ. Describe your image. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), The cement ship remained accessible to the public, just off the center of the end of Seacliff pier in 2000. (Dan Coyro -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), Recent storm surf pounded the SS Palo Alto cement ship causing parts of the disintegrating hulk to shift. Photo | Welcome back message greets students returning to school Santa Cruz Cinema takes over downtown Regal 9 theater (Kevin Johnson -- Santa Cruz Sentinel), Visitors walk along the pier leading to the SS Palo Alto in Aptos on Thursday afternoon. Share your photos with Patch, and your work could be featured. APTOS, CA — Patch reader Greg Sperry shared this gorgeous photo of local landmark SS Palo Alto on a colorful evening. If you've documented some gorgeous scenery, captured kids being kids, a pet doing something funny or anything else unusual, we'd love to feature it on Patch. She was launched on 29 May 1919, too late to see service in the war. Cement Ship reaches 100 years a little worse…, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Photo gallery | Cement Ship reaches 100 years a little worse for wear, No. ship in sun. Related Articles She was stripped of her fittings and left as a fishing pier.