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Built in 1916 as the first ferry between Marin & Pt. Richmond, the Charles Van Damme has a rich history & a compelling story to tell.
Having spent 40 years as a working ferry & 25 years as the social hub of the Waldo Point waterfront. She appeared in several feature films & was a unique magnet for the rich & famous, the up & coming & the down & out. During her lifetime she had many incarnations, as 3 different restaurants, as an art & dance studio plus as an all night music venue & hang out for people like Carlos Santana, Janis Joplin & members of the Grateful Dead. The Ferry resided in the Gates Co Operative area at Gate Six Rd, Sausalito, now re-developed into the Waldo Point Park. In 1983 the ferry was demolished leaving just the paddlewheel, & smoke stack. This event will inform the public of how the paddle wheel & smoke stack will be restored for permanent public display in Waldo Point Park, Sausalito through the efforts of The Richardsons Bay Maritime Association,(RBMA) a 501 (c)(3). There will be information about the project, live music,, food & a chance for people to share their stories, photos & items from the Charles Van Damme Ferry Contact us if you would like to bring a table to share your stories, items, photos of the Charles Van Damme Ferry at the event (we need 2 weeks notice) |
About our Project
Save | Restore | Exibit
The Charles Van Damme Ferry, built in 1916, was a ferryboat for 40 years, bringing passengers, cars & cattle to many Bay Area communities. After her transport service ended, the ferry continued in other storied incarnations, connecting a whole new waterfront generation celebrating the arts, music and food. From 1940 through the ‘80’s the ferry was the “town hall” for artists of all stripes. The Charles Van Damme housed the Ark Nightclub in the late ’60’s, featuring many of the emerging rock bands, acts included Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and Santana.
Juanita Musson launched her legendary Juanita’s restaurant there, feeding rich and poor and stirring up controversy galore. Writers, painters, poets, sculptors, dancers and musicians moved to the Sausalito waterfront houseboat community looking to live and create alongside and on the great old beached Ferry.
Thirty-five years ago, 1983, the boat had become badly deteriorated and was demolished by order of Marin County. But through the determined efforts of local citizens, the original paddle wheel, smokestack and other artifacts were saved.
Our group, the Charles Van Damme Ferry Project, a sub-committee of our non-profit sponsor, The Richardson’s Bay Maritime Association (RBMA), is now embarking on the final phases of our effort to create a public home for the vessel’s paddle wheel and smokestack.
This permanent display will be located where the ferryboat last stood at Gate 5 Road in the Waldo Point Harbor Park in Sausalito. Surrounding the display will be signage depicting the Charles Van Damme’s unique history, educating & inspiring a new generation of fans to maritime and artistic culture. We have secured and stored the wheel, stack and artifacts. We have an approved location, detailed architectural plans and acceptable bids from skilled builders and acquired all the required permits to begin this project. We have gathered images & historical evidence to support her stories
We have secured and stored the wheel and stack. We have an approved location, detailed architectural plans and acceptable bids from skilled builders. Plus we have obtained from the County of Marin a Building Permit for construction. With these accomplishments now firmly in place, our committee, led by the architect for the project, Michael Rex, has begun a rigorous fundraising effort to fund the construction of the display. We estimate the cost of our Charles Van Damme Ferry Project at approximately three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. We are raising funds and securing volunteer services simultaneously, offsetting the cash requirements with donated materials and labor. The location of the landmark will be Waldo Point Harbor, one of the most famous houseboat communities in the world. Even now, with little public or tour bus parking, hundreds of people come every day to see the unique and colorful Sausalito houseboats they have heard so much about.
The Charles Van Damme Ferry Exhibit will furnish another important piece of Sausalito’s history for local residents and visitors. Reminding all of us of our unique city and surrounding area, it will pay respect to a bygone maritime era and the ongoing waterfront life surrounding the arts and creative pursuits. By celebrating this hub of transport and creativity, we will encourage residents and visitors to continue the fantastic creative spirit of the Sausalito waterfront. The Charles Van Damme Ferry once again will serve as an important cultural icon. |
Where the exhibit will be place in Waldo Point Park.
PROJECT PHASES
We are nearly there!
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Help maintain over 100yrs of waterfront history to inspire generations to come.
With the donation of your time, money, expertise and support we will succeed in saving, restoring and displaying a rare and important local maritime and cultural icon to inspire both present and future generations to come.
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Tax deductable! |
