05/30/2026
🎉Today is the S.S. Palo Alto’s birthday and it turns 107 today! 🎉
On May 29, 1919, the S.S. Palo Alto was launched from the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Oakland as one of twelve concrete ships built for an emergency World War I fleet. By the time she entered the water, however, the war had ended, and she spent the next decade sitting idle in the harbor.
In 1930, the Seacliff Amusement Corporation purchased the ship and towed her to Seacliff, transforming her into a floating entertainment destination. Visitors could enjoy dinner aboard the Palo Alto, dance in the Rainbow Ballroom, play games, and even swim in a pool on the ship.
Unfortunately, the party lasted only two years before the Seacliff Amusement Corporation went out of business. California State Parks then purchased the Palo Alto for just $1.
The ship was reopened for visitors to walk the deck and fish from its rails, but decades of surf and winter storms eventually took their toll. Access to the Palo Alto was permanently closed in the early 2000's.
While people may no longer throw parties aboard the Palo Alto, seabirds, fish, seals, and even sharks now call the ship home. More than a century after her launch, the Palo Alto is still the center of activity in Seacliff—just for a different crowd.
Happy 107th Birthday, S.S. Palo Alto! 🎂⚓
📍 Aptos Tribal Land
Photo Credit: Aptos History Museum
Image 1: A photo of the Palo Alto that reads, "Happy 107th Birthday to the S.S. Palo Alto!" with confetti in the background.
Image 2: A photo of the Palo Alto sailing across the bay under its own power. It is decorated in nautical flags.
Image 3: The Palo Alto is being dropped into the water for the first time. This is its launch day, also known as its birthday.
Image 4: A photo of people gathered in the Rainbow Ballroom of the Palo Alto. Men and women are dressed up in suits and dresses.
Image 5: A photo of an empty Rainbow Ballroom. In the the back you an empty stage where the orchestra would play.
