The Original Lady Washington

The original Lady Washington, or more commonly, Washington, was a historic sailing ship named after Martha Washington, and it sailed for about ten years in the 18th century. Though covered in obscurity, the early history of the 90-ton sailing ship is said to be recorded in several documents, including the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War.

On October 1, 1787, she departed Boston Harbor as part of the Columbia Expedition. She sailed around Cape Horn, becoming the first American-flagged vessel to do so. She then went on to participate in the maritime fur trade with coastal Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the tea and porcelain trade across the Pacific in China. She also became the first recorded vessel to make landfall on the Oregon coast, near Tillamook, Oregon. According to John Meares, she was the first foreign vessel to circumnavigate Vancouver Island.

The Lady Washington was commanded by a number of captains back in the day. Naler Hatch took charge of the helm during the American Revolutionary War, and post-war, gave way to John Kendrick, a famous privateer captain during the war, and Robert Gray from Rhode Island. Kendrick had previously captained and commanded an expedition on the Columbia Rediviva, the larger sailing partner of the old Washington. It was after the first trading season that he ordered Gray to sail to China on the Columbia while he took command of Lady Washington. Under Kendrick’s command, Washington was refitted as a brig (brigantine in Old World terminology) in Macau.

The historic sailing ship, Lady Washington, eventually became the first American vessel to reach Japan in a failed attempt to move unsold pelts. She remained in the Pacific trade before foundering in the Philippines in 1797. In July 1797, Lady Washington was lost at the mouth of the Mestizo River, near Vigan, northwest Luzon.

Lady Washington

The New Lady Washington

The original Lady Washington went on to record many firsts during her 10-year run. So, it’s no surprise that a replica was made about two centuries after the original was lost, and it has already made some history of its own.

Commissioned on March 7, 1989, the new Lady Washington was thoroughly researched by historians and constructed in Aberdeen, Washington, by Grays Harbor Historical Seaport, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public development authority. Grays Harbor is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean named for Robert Gray, who first sailed into the harbor as master of Columbia. The current, full-scale replica of the original Lady Washington was constructed based on the post-Macau refit configuration, featuring a mainmast rigged with a topgallant sail and a topsail above a gaff mainsail. The brig launched just in time for the 1989 Washington State Centennial celebration.

The new Lady Washington, named the Washington State’s Tall Ship Ambassador or the State Ship, is operated by a professional and volunteer crew under the patronage of the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority. She regularly sails back and forth the Pacific coast, reaching out to sailors through the appeal of the sea in the hope that they return with a little of her history. She regularly teaches students about the life of common sailors, the history of merchant trading and the responsibilities of the ship’s officers.

It’s one thing to read about Washington, and it’s another to experience it first-hand. How about a chance to relive the authentic history of West Coast’s tall ship, the 20th-century Lady Washington replica, with your own eyes? Be it an adventurous weekend sail, a hands-on history for the kids, or if you’re looking to start your maritime career, reserve a spot now or contact us on (360) 589-8212.