The Concrete Ships of WWI and WWII: An Experiment In Maritime Construction
WWI
Atlantus
Cape Fear
Cuyamaca
Dinsmore
Latham
Moffitt
Palo Alto
Peralta
Polias
San Pasqual
Sapona
Selma
WWII
Anderson
Aspdin
Chateliere
Considere
Cowham
Eckel
Grant
Hennibique
Humphrey
Kahn
Lesley
Meade
Merriman
Pasley
Pollard
Saylor
Slater
Smeaton
Talbot
Thatcher
Vicat
Vidal
Vitruvius
Wason
Barges
Quartz
YOGN 82
Breakwaters
Powell River
Kiptopeke
 

S. S. Palo Alto

While the S. S. Atlantus may be the most famous concrete ship on the east coast, the S. S. Palo Alto ("The Cement Boat") is the most famous concrete ship on the west coast. The Palo Alto was built as an oil tanker by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Oakland, California and launched May 29, 1919. She is the sister ship of the S. S. Peralta.

The Palo Alto remained docked in San Fransisco Bay for over ten years until she was purchased by the Seacliff Amusement Company of Nevada and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California. The ship was grounded in the bay and connected to the shore by a long pier. An arcade, dining room, dance hall and even a swimming pool were built on the ship.

Unfortunately, the Seacliff Amusement Company went out of business two years later under the financial crunch of the Great Depression. Then, in winter, a storm cracked the ship across her midsection. The Palo Alto was stripped of all salvagable metal and fixtures and turned into a fishing pier.

David W. Heron wrote a book about the ship, Forever Facing South, The story of the S.S. Palo Alto "The Old Cement Ship" of Seacliff Beach.

Location

The S. S. Palo Alto can be found at Seacliff Beach in Aptos, California. Until recently she was used as a fishing pier but has now been closed due to deterioration.

Photos

Click either image for a larger version.

Then
(Courtesy of Paul Stevens)

Now
(From the 2001 Prism Photographics Calendar)

For more photos, please see the S. S. Palo Alto Photo Gallery.

Paul Stevens also has an extensive gallery of photos on his S. S. Palo Alto website.

Related Links

Vital Statistics

Gross Tonnage: 6,144
Net Tonnage: 3,696
Dimensions: 128.02 meters x 16.46 m x 10,67 m.
Engine: T.3-cyl., 359 nhp, Llewellyn Iron Works, Los Angeles, 1 screw.