The Historic Steam Schooner WAPAMA
historic place
WAPAMA was a historic steam schooner in San Francisco. Built in 1915 by James Price of the St. Helens Shipbuilding Company, it was launched on January 20, 1915. WAPAMA was the last wooden-hulled steam schooner designed for the Pacific Coast lumber trade, a fleet of over 200 vessels that transported timber and passengers along the coast. The State of California acquired WAPAMA in 1958, displaying it at the San Francisco Maritime State Park. In 1977, it transferred to the National Park Service. WAPAMA was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1984. Due to severe deterioration from dry rot, the ship was dismantled in August 2013, and its landmark designation was withdrawn in 2015. Today, WAPAMA's 42-ton triple-expansion steam engine, the largest rescued artifact, is exhibited at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. This engine represents WAPAMA's historical role as a vital part of the region's maritime trade.