(This is part of a series, Blogging from A to Z April 2014 Challenge. My theme for the challenge is Quintessential San Diego from A to Z, focusing on those things that are  typical, or perfect, or classic examples of San Diego life. Today is I.)

What is Quintessential San Diego and starts with “I”? There is Little Italy – a vibrant community and a growing Foodie Destination. And there are Indians – San Diego has 17 Indian reservations, more than any other county in the United States. But I’m going with the Star of India.

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Star of India in Full Sail Against San Diego Downtown Skyline
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The Star of India is the oldest ship still sailing regularly and also the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating.

She was built in 1863 at Ramsey at the Isle of Man, and named Euterpe.

If ships could talk, would this lady have stories to tell! Her first two voyages to India were disastrous with a collision, mutiny, a fierce gale, and a death of a captain enroute.

In 1871 she was sold, and made four more less-eventful voyages to India, with the jute trade.

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In late 1871 she began a 25-year career of carrying emigrants and freight from Great Britain to New Zealand. Each voyage went eastward all the way around the world before returning to England.

In 1897, after 21 round-the-world trips, Euterpe was sold again. From 1898 to 1901 she made four voyages between the Pacific Northwest, Australia and Hawaii carrying primarily lumber, coal and sugar.

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Star of India Prow
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In 1901, Euterpe was sold again, and re-rigged. She began carrying fishermen, cannery workers, coal and canning supplies each spring from Oakland, California to Nushagak in the Bering Sea, returning each fall with holds full of canned salmon.

In 1906 she was renamed Star of India.

She was laid up in 1923 after 22 Alaskan voyages. By that time, sailing ships were obsolete, and steamships ruled the seas.

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Ship’s Bell      Source
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Rigging      Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1926, Star of India was sold to the Zoological Society of San Diego, California. The plan was for her to be the centerpiece of a museum and aquarium. The Great Depression and World War II caused that plan to be canceled. She lay deteriorating at dock for the next 30 years.

In 1957 interest in the Star of India was renewed, and restoration began.

She’s now at port at the San Diego Maritime Museum. The Star of India is both a California Historical Landmark and United States National Historic Landmark.

Donna Amis DavisSan DiegoSan Diego A to ZSan Diego(This is part of a series, Blogging from A to Z April 2014 Challenge. My theme for the challenge is Quintessential San Diego from A to Z, focusing on those things that are  typical, or perfect, or classic examples of San Diego life. Today is I.) What is Quintessential San Diego and starts...Author of the '60s SURF SHOP MYSTERIES and DIVE SHACK MYSTERIES