In the 1920's while sailing ships were rotting away in harbors across the nation because their places had been taken by more modern steam ships, the Star of India, lying in the harbor at Alameda, California, was bought and brought here by a philanthropist, named James Wood Coffroth, to be a maritime museum for the City of San Diego.
Depression and World War II forced the plans for the restoration of the old ship to be laid aside. Indeed, during the war she was almost demolished and sold for scrap. Her tall masts were torn down because they were a hazard to navy planes flying over San Diego Bay.
At the end of the war the restoration was begun with funds raised by private subscription. The ship was opened as a maritime museum on Nov. 14, 1963, on her 100th birthday,
The Star of India is berthed at the Embarcadero, San Diego Harbor.
Star of India
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS LOCATED WITHIN SAN DIEGO COUNTY
BANCROFT HOUSE - State Historic Landmark No. 626
CABRILLO NATIONAL MONUMENT - State Historic Landmark No. 51.
OLD MISSION DAM - State Historic Landmark No. 52
SAN DIEGO PRESIDIO - State Historic Landmark No. 59
WARNER'S RANCH - State Historic Landmark No. 311
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/68july/landmarks.htm
