MV Kalakala

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name = MV KALAKALA (ferry)
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caption = The MV "Kalakala", pictured in an early promotional postcard (c. 1935)
location = Hylebos Creek Waterway, 1801 Taylor Way
Tacoma, Washington 47°16'30.04"N 122°23'10.68"W
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added = March 22, 2006
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refnum = 06000177
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The MV "Kalakala" is a former ferry that operated on Puget Sound from 1935 until her retirement in 1967.

"Kalakala" was notable for her unique streamlined superstructure, art deco styling, and luxurious amenities. The vessel was a popular attraction for locals and tourists, and was voted second only to the Space Needle in popularity among visitors to Seattle during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The ship is known as the world's first streamlined vessel for its unique art deco styling.

Service

She was constructed in 1926 as "Peralta" for the Key System's ferry service on San Francisco Bay. On 6 May 1933 "Peralta" burned as a result of an arson fire at the terminal where she was moored, resulting in the complete destruction of her superstructure. The hull was still intact and on 12 October 1933 the vessels was sold to the Puget Sound Navigation Company (PSNC), also known by its marketing name, the "Black Ball Line". PSNC funded a refit to restore the vessel as a ferry.Fact|date=August 2008

In November 1934, William Thorniley, publicist for PSNC and president of the Olympic Peninsula Travel Association, named the new ferry "Kalakala", which he said meant "flying bird" in the local Chinook Indian language, though he later admitted the name was a fabrication with no real meaning in any Native American dialect. Thorniley launched a national promotional campaign beginning with bill boards that simply said "KALAKALA!" Later, they said "KALAKALA, Seattle, WA" and featured a picture of the vessel as well.Fact|date=August 2008

The new bridge and wheelhouse were built entirely out of copper, from fear that the steel used in the rest of the vessel would interfere with the ship's compass. Set back from her streamlined superstructure for aesthetics, it was impossible to see the bow of the vessel from the bridge. As visibility also depended on round portholes rather than a fully-glazed wheelhouse, she was known for being difficult to handle when docking.

In 1946, Kalakala was issued FCC license #001 for the first commercial radar system. It's unrecorded if this was encouraged by her poor visibility.Fact|date=August 2008

Retirement

After her retirement in 1967, the vessel was sold to a seafood processing company and towed to Alaska to work as a factory ship. After working as a crabbing ship for a couple of years, the ship was beached in Kodiak, Alaska in 1970 and used to process shrimp.

A group of artists in Seattle discovered the rusting hulk in 1984, purchased the vessel, and managed to refloat her and tow her back to Seattle in 1998. The vessel has since been a source of controversy as her owners were unable to raise sufficient funds to refurbish the vessel or even to keep her moored in Seattle's Union Bay. The vessel was sold in 2004 to a private investor, who moved her to an anchorage in Neah Bay provided by the Makah Tribe. Soon after arriving at Neah Bay the "Kalakala" was evicted by the Makah, who also brought a lawsuit against the owners. The vessel has since been relocated to Tacoma, Washington.

In February 2008, "Kalakala" owner Steve Rodrigues announced his intention to acquire additional vintage ferry vessels and to restore them and the "Kalakala" as either ferries powered by wind and solar technologies or as museums. The "Kalakala" is currently scheduled for work on its hull and superstructure in dry dock in 2010. [http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080202/NEWS01/814676473]

Artistic projects

In 2003, a group of young artists informally adopted the "Kalakala" when it was docked in Lake Union. They attempted to buy it at the auction but were innocent regarding the way auctions work.

Several art projects arose from their fascination with the "Kalakala", including a full-length album of solo cello compositions recorded onboard the vessel in November 2003, called "Songs From a Parallel Universe." There is also an as-yet unreleased film, also filmed on the "Kalakala", about the "Ghost Dance."

There was also a live concert featuring the Icelandic band Mum, Serena Tideman and Eyvind Kang, on board the "Kalakala".

References

* cite web
url=http://www.kalakala.org/
title=Kalakala website

External links

* http://www.kalakalamania.com/