[Marine Preservation] Another one bites the dust

James Hefner · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2004 2:18 pm

Recieved word over the weekend that the U.S.S. Crescent City (later T.V. Golden Bear, later Artship) was towed from it's berth in Oakland, CA to a breaker in Brownsville, Texas.

This 1941-built vessel was to serve as a floating art gallery, museum and I believe convention center, but NIMBYs or lack of funding killed the idea. I had originally heard that she was to return to Suisun Bay; apparently, that was not to be.

A absolute shame; as I understand she is basically intact and in good condition as she heads for Brownsville. She sold for less than 200K.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steamships
james1@survivingworldsteam.com

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Mon Mar 01, 2004 4:22 pm

USS Crescent City (AP-40, later APA-21), a 8,409 ton transport, was launched at Sparrows Point, Maryland, in February 1940 as the merchant ship Del Orleans. She was acquired by the Navy in June 1941, converted at Mobile, Alabama, and placed in commission in the following October.

For more info and a photo see http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-u ... c/ap40.htm

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Tom Cornillie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2004 1:18 am

This ship does have an impressive history. What other efforts -if any- were made to save it before it was sold for scrap?

Some other links:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/shi ... apa21.html

http://www.artship.org/

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

James Hefner · **Posted:** Tue Mar 02, 2004 11:26 am

Call me paranoid if you want; but I think this sale went under the radar. The last word I heard I when the Artship program went under was that she was going back to Suisun Bay; then the next word is she was being scrapped!? And the amount they got for her was very unimpressive.

Me thinks the same company in Brownsville that got the aircraft carrier gets the "pleasure" of cutting up another war veteran. I could be all wrong about this; but it just doesn't seem right.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> This ship does have an impressive history.
> What other efforts -if any- were made to
> save it before it was sold for scrap?

> Some other links:

>
> http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/shi ... apa21.html

> http://www.artship.org/

Surviving World Steamships
james@survivingworldsteam.com