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San Francisco Maritime National Historical ParkA volunteer works on repairing and maintaining Balclutha's rigging.
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San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Alma
 
The scow schooner Alma sailing on San Francisco Bay.
The scow schooner Alma, sailing on San Francisco Bay.
 
STATS
Overall length 80 feet
Registered length 59 feet
Beam 22.6 feet
Depth 4 feet
Gross tonnage 41.76
Height of foremast 67 feet

  • Alma is a wooden-hulled scow schooner built in 1891 to carry bulk cargo.
  • The flat-bottomed hull was designed to navigate the shallow waters of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and to rest on the bottom at low tide.
  • With few bridges and connecting roads, scow schooners delivered goods all over the Bay and Delta much as trucks do today.
  • By 1880 there were 250 sailing scows on San Francisco Bay.

Click here to read about Alma's history, and the history of scow schooners on San Francisco Bay.

Words that say Go Sailing on Alma.
Afternoon Sailing Adventures on San Francisco Bay
Go sailing with a National Park Service Ranger
more...
A sailing ambassador, Alma represents the park at ports around San Francisco Bay.
Scow Schooner Alma
History of scow schooners on San Francisco Bay
more...
Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier.  

Did You Know?
The 19th Century sailing ship Balclutha, moored at San Francisco Maritime NHP, carried tons of coal during her career. Coal from Wales and Australia provided fuel for the West Coast's railroads, steamships, factories, businesses and homes.

Last Updated: July 25, 2006 at 00:22 EST