Since we weren't flying out from San Diego for home until around 4:30, we decided to visit the outdoor Maritime Museum. This was a real treat for all of us, even the kids.
Located in the San Diego Bay, the Maritime Museum preserves one of the largest collections of historic sea vessels in the U.S.
Also in the Bay is the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (USS Carl Vinson) that Adam is assigned to work on as a nuclear engineer while in San Diego for seven weeks.
When reading on the internet, this carrier transported and disposed of Osama bin Laden's body in 2011 from the deck of the ship!
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STAR OF INDIA--
The centerpiece of the museum's collection is the Star of India, an 1863 iron bark (sailing vessel with three masts).
She is a full-rigged iron windjammer ship, the second oldest ship still sailing regularly (at least once a year) and the oldest iron-hulled merchant ship still floating.
Unlike many preserved or restored vessels, her hull, cabins and equipment are nearly 100% original. Touring the ship made us feel like we were "going back in time."
First Class Passenger and Officer dining table with McKay touching one of the adjustable strips of wood (fiddle racks) to keep the dishes in place while the ship was under way.
This hungry bunch wants food right now!
Notice the dish racks above the cabinets.
Notice the telltale compass over the captain's bunk for quick reference to the compass heading of the ship.
The long drawers in the cabinet stored maps.
McKay on deck
"Scabby crew" around the compass and wheel of the ship
McKay navigating the ship
Closer look at the brass compass housing
Lifeboat on ship
"TWEEN DECKS"--
"TWEEN DECKS"--
Pulleys of all different sizes and weights
Second Class sleeping bunks with mannequins...
...and cute "live" passengers!
This porthole reminded of when my little Grandmother was on a ship headed for the Samoan Islands to meet up with my grandfather who was serving a three-year mission there. She said, "In the night, I awoke with a start due to being splashed with water. At first thought I was in the ocean, but I had forgotten to close the porthole."
This "tween deck" picture is also in the Church Museum section we have on Emigrants.
This is where the passengers would prepare their meals.
Passenger artifacts
Case showing ways passengers would "pass the time."
In their spare time seamen built miniature ships in bottles as a means of recreation. Another sailor art was "scrimshaw"--carved objects from whale teeth.
McKay and Benson looking out one of the hatches to the ocean in the bay.
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HMS SURPRISE--
A 1970 replica of a Royal Navy frigate.
Surprise was used in the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, and...
...also made an appearance in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides as HMS Providence.
Small cannon on the deck
While on deck, I noticed a docked Celebrity cruise ship. When I looked a little closer and read the name "Infinity," I realized that this was the same ship my siblings, their spouses, my dad and Doug and I cruised on to see Alaska a couple of years ago!
Cute "Mate Ruby" at the helm
Several sailors would crank this winch in a circular motion to reel the anchor up to set sail.
Captain for the day
Pigeon nest
Each cannon had a name written on his wooden cradle--"Huricane," "Spit Fire," etc. In the movie, Master and Commander, these lined-up cannons are shown at the first of the movie.
Ruby in between sea biscuit barrel and chicken coop.
This was interesting--The sign said, "At sea, bread would turn stale and moldy within a few days. The Navy issued hard biscuits made of flour and water. These were stored in sacks and lasted for months. Sailors would soak them to make them edible. Weevils, maggots and rats also tried to make a meal of the biscuits. To get rid of the maggots in the biscuits, sailors put a large dead fish on top of the sack. Maggots would crawl out of the biscuits and onto the fish. This was repeated until no more maggots crawled out.
Hammocks for sleeping--actually a good idea so that when you slept you swayed with the moving ocean!
In the movie Master and Commander, this is where Russell Crowe as Captain and his officers ate their meals and where Russell Crowe and the doctor played their stringed instruments.
The ship's stern
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SOVIET ATTACK SUBMARINE B-39--
We didn't take the time to tour the inside of the sub.
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USS DOLPHIN--
Diesel-electric submarine launched in 1968 and decommissioned in 2007.
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BERKELEY FERRYBOAT--
Built in 1898, the Berkeley was in regular service from 1898 to 1958.
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the ferryboat ferried refugees across the bay to Oakland.
ABOARD THE FERRY BOAT--
Old diving helmet
The museum maintains the MacMullen Library and Research Archives aboard the ferryboat.
Watching one of the two model ship carvers in the museum
(Notice Benny picking up another prized paper!)
This year is the bicentennial of the War of 1812.
British swivel gun dating from the War of 1812
Information about the construction of the San Salvador ship that is being built. We drove to this location after visiting the lighthouse.
In 1901, the original of this cast gravestone was found off the coast of Southern California. The stone carries the initials JRC, and is believe to be the marker of Cabrillo's grave.
Model of the San Salvador
Luggage cart for Berkeley ferryboat
Sign about "spitting" on the side of the luggage carrier
At the time of her launching, she became the largest commuter ferryboat in the U.S. with a 1700 passenger capacity.
This was certainly an elegant ferryboat with its...
...beautiful bench seating...
...stained glass panels...
...and Victorian decoration!
The restoration has been superbly done!
The kids trying on some of the souvenirs in the gift shop.
After touring the ships at the museum, we ate lunch at Anthony's on the wharf and then headed across the bay to the airport to then fly home to Salt Lake City.
We had such a wonderful time with the Hyde Family in sunny San Diego. Thanks to McKay, Ruby and Benny for showing us such a great time. We will always have fond memories of our trip, especially since we were able to share it with all of you.
3 comments:
This absolutely was so fascinating to read! I learned so much! The restorations are just fantastic! I really want to see all of these ships. The quote from Grandma Hattie's journal was so great and now your picture really provided a visual for what she was talking about.
Mom, you are a darn historian!!! Why didn't I get any of your smarts? Seriously! What a fun vacation and I just have to say, Ashley's kids are so dang cute! Love how Ruby poses:)
Ashley's kids are so dang cute just like Heather said. San Diego is filled with too many wonderful things to do and see but it looks like you have seen most of them. I loved what Laura said about Grandma Hattie's journal. When you see something like this, those stories seem to really come to life.
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