LADY WASHINGTON HISTORY

Lady Washington Emblem

A STORIED PAST

Launched on March 7, 1989, the Lady Washington was built in Aberdeen, Washington, by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public development authority. The new Lady Washington is a full-scale replica of the original Lady Washington.

In 1787, after the Revolutionary War, she was given a major refit to prepare her for a unprecedented trading voyage around Cape Horn. In 1788, she became the first American vessel to make landfall on the west coast of North America.

A pioneer in Pan-Pacific trade, she was the first American ship to visit Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan. Lady Washington opened the black pearl and sandalwood trade between Hawaii and Asia when King Kamehameha became a partner in the ship.

The modern Lady Washington, constructed as a brig, was thoroughly researched by historians and traditionally constructed by skilled shipwrights. She was launched as part of the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebration. The new Lady Washington is a U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified passenger sailing vessel.

Over the years, Lady Washington has appeared in several motion pictures and television shows, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek: Generations, Once Upon A Time, and Revolution.

LADY WASHINGTON TIMELINE

1986

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority chartered by the City of Aberdeen, Washington

1987

Keel laid for Lady Washington on September 13.

1989

Launched into the Wishkah River on March 7.

1989

In May and June, conducts first tour of Puget Sound ports.

1989

Lady Washington at home port of Aberdeen during July.

1989

In August and September, first tour of Columbia River ports, including Portland.

1991

First trip to Canada, including ports of Sooke, BC, and Vancouver, BC.

1993

First trip to California; 1st mock sea battle with Hawaiian Chieftain; Movie debut in Star Trek: Generations.

1998

First sailing partnership with Hawaiian Chieftain, which was later purchased by GHHSA.

2003

Sails to Caribbean for filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

2005

Lady Washington participates in healing ceremony with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and descendents of Robert Gray.

2005

GHHSA purchases Hawaiian Chieftain, which becomes Lady Washington’s companion ship.

2012

GHHSA completes major hull restoration project on Lady Washington.

2014

25th anniversary of Lady Washington’s launch on March 7.

FUN FACTS & TRIVIA

The figurehead of Lady Washington was carved by Bob McCausland, a former cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer who retired in Westport, Wash.

A number of coins are hidden on the Lady Washington. Traditionally, each time a mast is “stepped” or fitted onto the keel, a coin is placed at the base of the mast. In 1989, when the Lady Washington received her first mast, a silver coin was placed at the base. Later, during routine maintenance and mast replacements, more coins were placed. An estimated $1.75 in change is at the base of the current mast.

Laid end to end, Lady Washington’s 156 lines of running rigging would extend three miles.

The Lady Washington’s ceiling is under crew and passenger’s feet. On a wooden ship, the “ceiling” planks are horizontal planks of wood covering the inner part of the ship’s ribs from the keel upward along the hull.

The original Lady Washington started out as a single-masted sloop when it was constructed in the 1750s. It was refitted as a two-masted brig before her voyage to the Pacific Northwest in 1787.

In 1791, the original Lady Washington was the first American-flagged vessel to visit Japan and attempt to open trade, 62 years before Commodore Mathew Perry entered Tokyo Bay in 1853 with his US Navy squadron. The original Lady Washington was also the first American-flagged vessel to visit Honolulu and Hong Kong.

LADY WASHINGTON HISTORY

A STORIED PAST

Launched on March 7, 1989, the Lady Washington was built in Aberdeen, Washington, by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public development authority. The new Lady Washington is a full-scale replica of the original Lady Washington.

In 1787, after the Revolutionary War, she was given a major refit to prepare her for a unprecedented trading voyage around Cape Horn. In 1788, she became the first American vessel to make landfall on the west coast of North America.

A pioneer in Pan-Pacific trade, she was the first American ship to visit Honolulu, Hong Kong and Japan. Lady Washington opened the black pearl and sandalwood trade between Hawaii and Asia when King Kamehameha became a partner in the ship.

The modern Lady Washington, constructed as a brig, was thoroughly researched by historians and traditionally constructed by skilled shipwrights. She was launched as part of the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebration. The new Lady Washington is a U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified passenger sailing vessel.

Over the years, Lady Washington has appeared in several motion pictures and television shows, including Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Trek: Generations, Once Upon A Time, and Revolution.

Lady Washington Emblem

LADY WASHINGTON TIMELINE

1986

Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority chartered by the City of Aberdeen, Washington

1987

Keel laid for Lady Washington on September 13.

1989

Launched into the Wishkah River on March 7.

1989

In May and June, conducts first tour of Puget Sound ports.

1989

Lady Washington at home port of Aberdeen during July.

1989

In August and September, first tour of Columbia River ports, including Portland.

1991

First trip to Canada, including ports of Sooke, BC, and Vancouver, BC.

1993

First trip to California; 1st mock sea battle with Hawaiian Chieftain; Movie debut in Star Trek: Generations.

1998

First sailing partnership with Hawaiian Chieftain, which was later purchased by GHHSA.

2003

Sails to Caribbean for filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

2005

Lady Washington participates in healing ceremony with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and descendents of Robert Gray.

2005

GHHSA purchases Hawaiian Chieftain, which becomes Lady Washington’s companion ship.

2012

GHHSA completes major hull restoration project on Lady Washington.

2014

25th anniversary of Lady Washington’s launch on March 7.

FUN FACTS & TRIVIA

The figurehead of Lady Washington was carved by Bob McCausland, a former cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer who retired in Westport, Wash.

A number of coins are hidden on the Lady Washington. Traditionally, each time a mast is “stepped” or fitted onto the keel, a coin is placed at the base of the mast. In 1989, when the Lady Washington received her first mast, a silver coin was placed at the base. Later, during routine maintenance and mast replacements, more coins were placed. An estimated $1.75 in change is at the base of the current mast.

Laid end to end, Lady Washington’s 156 lines of running rigging would extend three miles.

The Lady Washington’s ceiling is under crew and passenger’s feet. On a wooden ship, the “ceiling” planks are horizontal planks of wood covering the inner part of the ship’s ribs from the keel upward along the hull.

The original Lady Washington started out as a single-masted sloop when it was constructed in the 1750s. It was refitted as a two-masted brig before her voyage to the Pacific Northwest in 1787.

In 1791, the original Lady Washington was the first American-flagged vessel to visit Japan and attempt to open trade, 62 years before Commodore Mathew Perry entered Tokyo Bay in 1853 with his US Navy squadron. The original Lady Washington was also the first American-flagged vessel to visit Honolulu and Hong Kong.