The SS Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker in 1919 during World War I. An unconventional shipbuilding material, concrete was used due to the steel shortage. She never served as the war ended before her construction was finished.
On her maiden and only voyage in 1929 the ship was towed from Oakland to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, California to be grounded there and converted to an entertainment venue. Once positioned at the beach, the valves were opened and the 420′ Palo Alto settled to the ocean bottom.
By the summer of 1930 a pier had been built leading to the remodeled ship. A dance floor on the main deck was added, also a cafe, a casino and a fifty-four foot heated swimming pool. A series of carnival type concessions were placed on the rear of the tanker. During the Great Depression the owner went broke and after two seasons, the ship was stripped of its amenities. The Palo Alto and the pier were left to be used only for fishing.
Extensively damaged by storms in early 2023, over half of the pier was destroyed. The remaining section was deemed beyond repair; before its natural immenent collapse occured the pier was removed. Today the Palo Alto is mostly submerged.
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When I went to see her I found it sad. She never had the chance to do what she was “born” to do, her duty to our country.
With barely anything left of her one day not too far in the future none of her will be visible from the shore where people enjoy the beach.
For now, though, the SS Palo pulls you in, you to want to know more about her. I hope this story serves her well.
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