Pearl Harbor Day, 2024 -- December 7, 2024

USN - Official U.S. Navy photo NH 95815001 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command

83 years ago today, a sneak attack by forces of the Japanese Empire sank or damaged much of the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor in the territory of Hawaii. The Japanese Empire came to regret doing this.

The light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) was hit by a Japanese torpedo during the attack. She was not mortally wounded, so after temporary repairs at Pearl Harbor, she steamed under her own power to Mare Island, where she was repaired and modernized. She seerved in the Guadalcanal campaign, she was hit by multiple tordoes and sunk during the Battle of Kula Gulf.

Ferry Mare Island -- May 15, 2013

High speed passenger ferry Mare Island lays over at the Ferry Building after a quick trip from Vallejo.  Mare Island and her sister Intintoli were built in 1997.  They sail for Vallejo BayLink Ferry (http://www.baylinkferry.com/). 

Italian Cruiser Etna -- August 26, 2011

Italian protected cruiser Etna was launched in 1885. She served all over the world and was used as a stationary hulk during World War One. She was sold for scrap in 1921. Here she is visiting Mare Island to get her bottom scraped after time in Asia and the Pacific.

From the 09-November-1898 San Francisco Call. William A Coulter did many maritime drawings for the newspaper. Click on the image to see a larger version.

Monticello Steamship Company -- January 14, 2011

The Monticello Steamship Company operated fast ferries between San Francisco and Vallejo, with a stop at the Mare Island Navy Yard on some runs. The boats connected with trains of the San Francisco, Vallejo and Napa Valley Electric Railroad. In later years they carried automobiles.

Ferry Sehome had a complicated life. She was built in 1877 as Mountain Queen, a stern-wheeler. In 1889, she was rebuilt as a side-wheeler. Monticello purchased her in 1909. In 1914, she was rebuilt to use a propeller. On 14-Dec-1918, fellow Monticello boat General Frisbie, rammed Sehome while proceeding through the fog near Point Pinole. No one was injured and Sehome's passengers were able to transfer to General Frisbie before Sehome went down. The Mare Island Navy Yard Marine Band played music to help calm the passengers.

The ad is from the 20-February-1910 San Francisco Call. Click on the image to see a larger version.