ZODIAC (schooner)
historic place
The schooner Zodiac, a historic vessel, was built in 1924 in East Boothbay, Maine. It began as a private yacht for the Johnson and Johnson pharmaceutical heirs. In 1931, the San Francisco Bar Pilots Association acquired it, renaming it California. The vessel served as a pilot boat for over 40 years, retiring in 1972 as the last sailing pilot vessel in the United States. After its service, the schooner underwent restoration, and by early 1982, it was at Seattle's Lake Union Dry Dock. In 1982, the schooner Zodiac was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it operates as a charter vessel in the Puget Sound region. The Zodiac represents an important part of American maritime heritage.