WAWONA (schooner)
historic place
The WAWONA schooner was a historic vessel in Seattle, Washington. Built in 1897 by Hans Ditlev Bendixsen in California, this three-masted schooner measured 165 feet long. Initially, the WAWONA transported lumber along the West Coast. From 1914 to 1947, she became a fishing vessel in the Bering Sea, setting a world record for codfish caught. During World War II, the U.S. Army used her as a military barge. In 1964, Seattle residents purchased the WAWONA for preservation as a museum ship at South Lake Union Park. She was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, the first ship in the country to receive this designation. Severe deterioration led to the WAWONA's dismantling in 2009, with some parts preserved. The schooner represents the Pacific Northwest's maritime heritage.