C.A. Thayer — Attraction in San Francisco

The C.A. Thayer Lumber Schooner is a National Historic Landmark. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Built in 1895, she is the lone survivor of 122 sailing schooners designed in the 19th century for Pacific Coast lumber trade.

C.A. Thayer was large for a three-masted schooner, measuring 452 tons, with a length of 156', beam of 36' and 11' 8" depth of hold. Built with one hold which ran the length of the ship, she was designed to carry 575,000 board feet of lumber about half of it on deck. In later years, when she worked in the codfishing trade, a foc'sle was built in her hold. It still remains and encompasses approximately one quarter of the hold.

Designed primarily for coastwise work, C.A. Thayer regularly sailed from the Hoquiam, Washington mill of E. K. Wood Company to their yard at San Francisco or to Southern California; however, she made frequent offshore passages to carry lumber to Guaymas, Honolulu, and Fiji.

In 1925, C.A. Thayer was sold to the Pacific Coast Codfish Company which fished the Bering Sea. She sailed to the Bering Sea each season through 1950.

1956, the California State Division of Beaches and Parks purchased the ship. She was repaired in Puget Sound shipyards - new stern, new rig, new masts - and although she was far short of restored, she was seaworthy and capable of a coastwise passage under her own sail.

After reaching San Francisco Bay, she was berthed at Jack London Square for over a year.

In 1959, serious restoration began at a ship repair facility located at Oakland Dock & Warehouse Company's Pier 1-E.

In 1963, C.A. Thayer was moved to her present location at the Hyde Street Pier.

n 2004, she was towed to Alameda for major restoration. Approximately eighty percent of her timbers were replaced with new timbers matching the original wood. She was towed back to the Hyde Street Pier on...

This is such a cool ship! You have no idea how stinking big it is until you're on it and inside it! And the history behind it is so cool, especially learning that it built many houses in the San Francisco area, and each load carried enough wood to...

Fun history tour into an important part of maritime trade history in SF / Northern California coast. Very dedicated, knowledgeable staff to answer questions and facilitate cool history discussions. A must for sailors boat enthusiasts and...