Lumber

From 1897 to 1913, the schooner carried lumber from Grays Harbor and Puget Sound ports to California. One of her captains, Ralph E. "Matt" Peasley, inspired a series of popular novels.^[4][5][6][7]

Fishing

From 1914 until 1947, except during World War II, Wawona sailed to the Bering Sea with a crew of 36 to fish for cod. In 1935, her captain, Charles Foss, died at the wheel during a storm in the Aleutian Islands. Her service ended in 1948.

Museum Ship

After her active career, Wawona began a career as a museum ship at the Seattle Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Wawona was berthed at the Museum of History & Industry's pier at South Lake Union Park.^[3] The pier features several other historically important ships and is adjacent to the Center for Wooden Boats which provides educational experiences in maritime history.

Wawona was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. She was also on the Washington State Heritage Register, and was an official city landmark.^[8] Her designs are maintained in the Library of Congress.^[9]

Restoration and dismantling

In 1964, sixteen years after the vessel's retirement, a group of Seattle residents, headed by Kay Bullitt, formed Northwest Seaport and purchased Wawona as a museum ship. The schooner was made available for public visits during her ongoing restoration.^{[10][failed verification]}

Wawona was towed to a dry dock and dismantled on March 2, 2009. Some of the vessel's features were preserved for the museum.^[11]

Wawona was hauled to the Lake Union Drydock on 4 March 2009 and was dismantled. The only remaining West Coast lumber transport sailing ship is C.A. Thayer.^[12]