The Star of India has called San Diego home since 1923. The world’s oldest seafaring ship was built in 1863 with an experimental design that used iron instead of wood. Launched as the Euterpe (the Greek goddess of music) the ship’s initial voyages involved some rough sailing. Her first trip included a collision and a mutiny. On her second journey she came face to face with a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal, and with her topmasts cut away she barely made port. She sailed then her first captain died at sea.
But things got better…she served as a cargo ship to India, a passenger vessel hauling emigrants to New Zealand and a commercial salmon fishing and packing facility. Her name was changed to Star of India in 1906 and after 60 years of solid performance she was towed to San Diego. Saved from the ax or torch by concerned historians, she sat in port for over 50 years until funding helped renovate the tired old lady which was once a star. In 1976 the fully restored ship put to sea for the first time in fifty years, and she sailed beautifully once more. The Star now sets sail for special occasions.
