If you live in Seattle you may have heard of the Kalakala. It’s been in the news the past few weeks
because it has finally been demolished, after various attempts to save it over the years failed due to the expense of restoration (you can read more about it here).
Many years ago I happened to come across this icon while it was docked on the shores of Lake Union–a huge vessel with an unusual shape that looked like a relic from the past with a unique history (the Kalakala was a state ferry from the 1930s-1960s and then used as a fish cannery). As you can see from these images, 
it was in major disrepair and only a shadow of its former self. And now that she is gone, we have only the images that remain of this piece of Northwest maritime history (these images are available to order as photo cards and prints).
3 Comments
I am so sorry to hear this. I am (really!) wearing a T-shirt with the image of the Kalakala on the front at this minute. Several years ago, I did some volunteer work in their Fremont office while fundraising. I have been on it many times. I was there when they towed it between the Waterfront to the Lake Union site. I also have a couple of pewter pins that were made at one time. I guess I will value these things even more. Another icon gone…. Thanks for the nostalgia.
Wow, you were on it! Yes, another icon gone, although it obviously needed a lot of expensive work to preserve (and/but it took a lot of years of disrepair to get to this sorry condition). Wearing a t-shirt with the image of the Kalakala sounds like a fitting way to honor her passing.
Today I’m washing my Carhart jacket & removed my pewter pin. Have two wonderful pictures of her in my living room.
Did not know they were going to destroy her. Very sad. Remember, Rob, we were on an Argosy boat & watched them tow her into Seattle all the way from Alaska?