When I was a kid in the late 60's, we used to go to a nearby beach called Rio Del Mar. We'd walk over to the "cement ship" and could walk almost to the end of it. As the waves went in and out, it seemed the ship was breathing through the open hatches. The older kids convinced us it was the ghosts of dead passengers. lol... Good times! Btw, in 2017 it took a big hit from a storm and now the part closest to the pier has tipped over.

I remember walking on the cement boat. C. 1967 Where it was split, the gap was like an aquarium, all kinds of fish and such. The Big Rains of 1977-78 made that impossible. Maybe an earlier storm damaged it, not certain but Nov 77 into 78 was a record. I haven't gone to the cement boat since c.1981. I was in Boulder Creek in late 1977 ... San Lorenzo river was up to the top. At the beach there was wood/trees 3-5 feet deep where it enters the ocean, at the Boardwalk. Sand accumulates Every winter 10+ feet but in late 77 it must have around 20 feet deep in sand along the beach from Boardwalk to harbor. I lived very near the Boardwalk Late 77-80. Then the Feb' 1983 and winter of 1994 worked it over. And so on the year 2000 in no way matches the above mentioned rains.

When I was a kid you could walk to the end of the ship and you could go below deck it was magical - so it is sad to see it going going gone even the pier is going -

We love to visit the area and watch the sun set there. The waves would hit the bow and the water would come up through holes in the deck like blow holes. Thank you for sharing this video. 🙏

I lived above the ship in '65-'66. I was 3-4yrs. old. My parents walked me to the beach and cement ship often. Pink popcorn from the snack bar and WW2 vets fishing off the ship really stick out in my mind. Anchor tattoos and lots of caught fish....awesome memories! I've heard that the Palo Alto was used during the 20s (prohibition era) for drinking and gambling offshore. Has anyone else heard this story?

I was not around when you were able to walk around the ship but I was around when the gate was locked and was able to see the ship from up close before it stared to sink

I was saddened to learn the pier will now be demolished. It makes sense, but there's a lot of memories and history that go with the ship and pier.

amazing, thank you

Awesome documentary on this ship!

How many viewers here had been on the deck of the Palo Alto before it was closed to the public?😎

Such a sad story.

1:02

recently the stern split and turned over and the pier which goes out to the boat is now closed

I used to fish of it in the 70s. Over the years it got worse and they kept closing sections off. Every once in a while you could see a shark or two...

that's not a boat, it's a ship!

When did they close down there like that ballroom and the pool

It was not covered over in concrete... lol It was born that way...

like s.s. atlantus

Old world lol not like it was new .