The Last Voyage of a Seward Legend: ‘Santa Ana’ Heads South

In the misty dawn of Seward’s history, a small, wooden steamer named Santa Ana played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s destiny. This unassuming vessel, which had been plying the waters of the north Pacific for over a quarter of a century, had seen it all – from the bustling port of Seattle to the rugged shores of Resurrection Bay, where the town of Seward was still a mere forest of virgin trees, with only a lone log cabin standing as a testament to human presence. The cabin belonged to Mrs. Mary Lowell, a pioneering spirit who would have been among the first to welcome the steamer and its crew to these unforgiving shores.

The Santa Ana’s history was inextricably linked to Seward’s, having carried its first crew and cargo of construction materials and supplies from Seattle in the early days of the town’s founding. This historic steamer had played a crucial role in the development of Seward, and now, as it set sail for the tropical seas of the Caribbean, it was leaving behind a legacy that would be remembered for generations to come.

The Santa Ana’s departure marked the end of an era, a quarter-century of faithful service to the people of Seward and Alaska. Its history was not without its share of challenges, however. In its early days, the steamer’s first locomotive was thought to have been built of wood, and its builders had cleverly promoted it as a novelty, much to the amusement of onlookers who watched in wonder as would-be engineers attempted to whittle the engine into shape with pocket knives.

As the Santa Ana sailed into the sunset, its crew and passengers were no doubt filled with a mix of emotions – sadness at leaving behind the only home they had known for so long, and excitement at the prospect of exploring new horizons. For the people of Seward, however, the departure of the Santa Ana marked the end of an era, a reminder that even the most iconic symbols of our past are destined to fade into memory, leaving behind only the faintest glimmer of what once was.

The Santa Ana’s legacy would live on, however, a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people who had built and sailed this sturdy vessel. Its story would be told and retold, a reminder of the pioneering spirit that had shaped the history of Seward and Alaska, and the incredible journey that had brought this small, wooden steamer to the forefront of the city’s development.

As the Santa Ana disappeared over the horizon, the people of Seward looked out to sea, their hearts filled with a sense of nostalgia and wonder at the incredible journey that had brought this historic vessel to their shores. The Santa Ana may have sailed into the sunset, but its spirit would live on, a reminder of the power of human ingenuity and determination to shape the course of history.