The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is calling on everyone with stories about the tall ship Lady Washington, the Official Ship of the State of Washington, to share those stories during her 20th anniversary year.
Since her launch on March 7, 1989, more than one million people have walked her decks and every visitor has a tale to tell.
The Historical Seaport is asking past volunteers, visitors, board members, suppliers, crew, supporters, and enthusiasts to e-mail their story with photos to stories@historicalseaport.org. Stories and photos will be posted on the Historical Seaport Blog, http://historicalseaport.blogspot.com/.
During 2009, Lady Washington is marking her 20th year of changing people’s lives with voyages on the Columbia River and Puget Sound, accompanied by the tall ship Hawaiian Chieftain.
As well as soliciting stories by e-mail, the Historical Seaport has asked a videographer to join the ship at many of her stops and record people telling their personal Lady Washington stories.
Many of the anecdotes will appear in a 55-minute video now in pre-production. The video is scheduled for release in early 2010.
The Lady Washington’s 10-week "Rediscovering the Columbia River" voyage begins April 23. Scheduled stops include Ilwaco, Astoria, Cathlamet, Kalama, Vancouver, Washougal, Stevenson, Hood River, The Dalles, Arlington, Umatilla, Pasco, St. Helens, and Rainier.
After stops at Westport and Aberdeen in late June and early July, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will proceed to Puget Sound. The Historical Seaport is working on a schedule that includes calls at Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Everett, Anacortes, Bellingham, and Friday Harbor. Each city was visited by the ship in her first year of operation.
Throughout their Columbia River and Puget Sound voyages, the Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain will offer public walk-on tours and sailings. For a complete schedule, visit www.historicalseaport.org.
Lady Washington is a full-scale replica of the first American vessel to visit the Northwest coast, arriving in May of 1788, followed one month later by Columbia Rediviva, Capt. Robert Gray’s vessel for which the Columbia River was named in May 1792. Hawaiian Chieftain is a reproduction of a typical European coastal trader.
Designated Washington State’s official ship in 2007, Lady Washington and Hawaiian Chieftain visit more than 40 ports a year in Washington, Oregon, California and British Columbia. Both vessels are owned and operated by Aberdeen-based Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority.
Information is subject to change without notice. A Lady Washington fact sheet, timeline and trivia sheet are available on the Press Releases page at www.historicalseaport.org.
Celebrating 20 Years of Changing People’s Lives: 1989-2009 – The Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) public development authority based in Aberdeen that owns and operates the tall ships Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington, launched March 7, 1989, now the Official Ship of the State of Washington.
GHHSA’s mission is to provide educational, vocational, recreational and ambassadorial activities and experiences that promote and preserve the maritime history of Grays Harbor, the Pacific Northwest and the nation while serving the needs of the community.
