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One of the most spectacular survivors of America's great Age of Sail, the C.A. THAYER is a three-masted sailing schooner, built in the 1890s, and is one of only two large schooners still afloat.

The C.A. THAYER was a workhorse, hauling heavy timber from the forests of Washington down to California.

During World War II, the C.A. THAYER was used by the Army as a barge for storing empty shells from target practice at sea.

In 1957, the State of California purchased the ship from a private business, and today this historic schooner is the centerpiece of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Every year, some 10,000 school children get the chance to spend a night on board.

But the C.A. THAYER is slowly rotting and needs a complete restoration. Although this ship is a national treasure, the restoration project is not receiving federal funding. Visit www.nps.gov/safr to learn more.
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