Kalakala
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kalakala was a Washington State Ferry which plied the waters of Puget Sound from 1935 until her retirement in 1967. She was notable for her unique streamlined hull, art deco styling, and luxurious amenities. The vessel was a popular attraction for locals and tourists, and was second only to the Space Needle in popularity among visitors to Seattle.
The name "Kalakala" is taken from a word meaning "bird" in Chinook jargon, a trade language once widely used on the Northwest coast of the United States and in what is now British Columbia, Canada.
After her retirement, the vessel was sold to a seafood processing company to work as a factory ship, then was beached in Kodiak, Alaska. 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 ferry 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. The vessel was sold in 2004 to a private investor, who moved her to moorage in Neah Bay provided by the Makah Tribe. Soon, however, the Kalakala was evicted by the Makah, who also brought a lawsuit against the owners. The vessel has since been relocated to Tacoma, Washington.
