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Smith River, California: Grounded Ship, Former Museum

Free museum was in the hold of a former private yacht dragged onto land, below the "Pirates Den" gift shop featuring nautical and pirate kitsch. Reported closed since 2012; the ship is still there.

Ship Ashore Gift Shop and Museum

Address:
12370 Highway 101 North, Smith River, CA
Directions:
Ship Ashore Gift Shop and Museum, US Hwy 101 and Chinook St. A couple of miles from the Oregon border.
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Visitor Tips and News About Grounded Ship, Former Museum

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Ship Ashore.

Shipashore, Former Pirate Den

This was my favorite place as a kid! Just checked in on it to see what was up. No signs of life or renovations.

[JR Worley, 08/24/2021]

Ship Ashore.

Ship Ashore Little Museum

The museum is currently closed, but the ship is under renovation.

[Julie McHenry, 10/25/2019]

Ship Ashore.

Ship Ashore - Little Museum (Closed)

Ship Ashore is still closed. No sign of life.

[Billbowie, 07/26/2016]
Ship Ashore

I just called to see if this place would be open over the holidays, because I would be driving through, and unfortunately it is closed for good. I have the most amazing memories of this place, and I am so sad that it has closed down! According to the woman I spoke with on the phone, lawyers from the city shut the place down because the ship was not ADA accessible.

[Neon, 12/20/2013]

Ship Gift Shop.

Ship Ashore Gift Shop

Visible from CA Highway 101 near the Oregon border. Gift shop is housed in a vintage passenger yacht.

[Kim Wheeler, 12/30/2012]

Once a millionaire's private yacht, fitted to serve as WWII Navy messenger and weather ship, then decommissioned in 1946. Eventually ended up serving as a dockside restaurant, cocktail lounge and motel office. Since 1965, a landmark, land-bound gift shop and museum. At last report, the museum was closed.


Nearby Offbeat Places

Samurai Sword of Pilot Who Bombed OregonSamurai Sword of Pilot Who Bombed Oregon, Brookings, OR - 8 mi.
Ocean World AquariumOcean World Aquarium, Crescent City, CA - 13 mi.
Curly Redwood LodgeCurly Redwood Lodge, Crescent City, CA - 14 mi.
In the region:
Trees of Mystery: Giant Bunyan and Babe, Klamath, CA - 26 mi.

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