Lady Washington visits Redondo Beach’s King Harbor [PHOTOS]
The Lady Washington visits King Harbor. Photos
The tall ship Lady Washington, arrived in King Harbor for a 7 day visit on Wednesday. The original Lady Washington was the first American ship to land on the west coast, in 1788. The ship moored at Redondo Beach Marina was launched nearly two centuries later as part of the Washington State centennial celebration.
The industrial revolution was just beginning to tighten its grip on western civilization when the original Lady Washington began opening trade routes between Hawaii, Hong Kong and Japan.
It’s hard to find anything from the early part of the industrial revolution, even a reproduction of anything, that has remained as relevant in the early 21st century. Museums are full of devices and photos of equipment that preceded today’s machines. You can even visit historical colonies where people in period costumes churn butter and mold horse shoes by hand.
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Those interesting, historical novelties offer insights into life in a world that has long passed. But they serve no functional purpose in the lives we live today except perhaps, for the people who work there.
The Lady Washington is a different story. She uses her roots in the American past to shape the present and guide the future.
“The ship’s main purpose is to teach,” said Joe Follansbee, communications director for Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority, the not-for-profit public development authority that operates the Lady Washington. That’s a big part of what the ship will do while she’s in King Harbor. The professional and volunteer crew will host tours and cruises for individuals and school groups. They’ll teach anyone who cares to learn, the arts of navigation and seamanship with a dash of oceanography and sea lore tossed in for an authentic taste of nautical history.
The crew members on the Lady Washington still use an old compass to navigate the ocean.
The Lady Washington teaches other lessons that aren’t necessarily on the published syllabus. Jesse Maupin washed dishes in his small Washington state home town after high school. He had no plans to continue his education. In fact, he had no plans at all, other than knowing he wanted something else. “I knew that if I stayed where I was, I would fall back into the same habits that had gotten me into trouble in the past,” Maupin said.
Fate intervened. He filled the last bunk on Lady Washington’s “Two Weeks Before the Mast” program, which teaches people the seagoing arts in a hands-on, live aboard environment.
Before the 2 weeks were over, he said, “I knew that I wanted to come back and make this my life.”
Maupin returned as a deckhand and served aboard the Lady Washington for nine months. “I had found life, love, and happiness all conveniently located within an 18th century sailing vessel.”
He went on to complete a degree in biochemistry at Evergreen State College, then enrolled in medical school at the University of Washington. Lady Washington transported Jesse Maupin much further in life than his actual miles at sea.
The ship may soon take credit for transporting an entire town toward a new future. Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority has plans to buy a 2.5 acre parcel of land with 320 feet of frontage on the Chehalis River and develop a complex it will call Seaport Landing.
It will become home to the Lady Washington and the organization’s other tall ship, Hawaiian Chieftain. Follansbee calls the future complex a “destination attraction”.
According to Follansbee, “Seaport Landing will revitalize the waterfront in the city of Aberdeen (where Grey’s Harbor is located).”
It makes you wonder whether a campaign like that might succeed in revitalizing another harbor in another place.
Lady Washington will be open to the public daily. For more information visit historicalseaport.org or call (800)-200-5239.
It will be available for public tours starting on Nov. 25, noon-5 p.m.; Nov. 26 and 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Nov. 29 and 30, 4-5 p.m.
Harry Munns is a Redondo Beach Harbor Commissioner.