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Building the Evergreen State

The first lady of Washington State Ferries began life in 1954.  She was the first ferry to be built from the ground up since the Vashon in 1930.  All the other newer ferries on Puget Sound had either been built as part of the San Francisco Bay fleet or had been coverted from passenger steamers.      Not surprisingly, the construction of the ferry was big deal.  She would soon become the unofficial flag ship and appear on most of the maps and brochures put out by the state until the Super Class arrived.      Pacific Workboat Magazine published a large article on the construction of the Evergreen in their 4 December 1954 issue, just after the ferry entered service.  The magazine offers a rare glimpse of one of the state ferries being built.

Nearing completion, the Evergreen looks very much as she would when finished, minus paint and windows.

This view of the completed and painted funnels shows the troublesome open girder texas deck.  The deck was rumored to have been acidentally installed upside down.  It was plated over in 1988, which greatly distubed the ferry's stability.

The Evergreen State would only keep this profile for 5 years.  In 1959 a large central mast would be added to after she began international service to Sidney, British Columbia.  It would set her apart from her sisters forever after. Back

Green was the order of the day when WSF took over from Black Ball.  These two photos were snapped just before the ferry went into service.  Courtesy of MOHAI, Williamson Collection.  Color by Nevermore Images.