It's the end of an era for Aptos. Last winter, El Nino storm waves split the S.S. Palo Alto ship. And on Saturday, the stern connected to the long pier at Seacliff State Beach was tossed onto its side by even bigger, more powerful, winter waves. AERIAL VIDEO: Cement ship tossed by storm waves This weekend's waves not only broke the ship, but also records in the Monterey Bay. The National Weather Service said a new wave record was set as the Monterey Bay buoy recorded 34-foot waves. This smashed the previous wave size record, set in 2008 by 32.8-foot waves. Under the forces of Mother Nature, the S.S. Palo Alto has slowly crumbled into the sea for decades. But locals were still stunned by how dramatically the ship shifted during this swell. The Aptos History Museum wrote, "While it is shocking to see the damage, it is not unexpected considering its age. The S.S. Palo Alto was launched on May 29, 1919." The heavy local landmark, while made out of concrete, is nicknamed the "Cement Ship." The S.S. Palo Alto is the most famous concrete ship on the West Coast, according to concreteships.org. "The Palo Alto was built as an oil tanker by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Oakland, California and launched May 29, 1919. The Palo Alto remained docked in San Fransisco Bay for over 10 years until she was purchased by the Seacliff Amusement Company of Nevada and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. The ship was grounded in the bay and connected to the shore by a long pier. An arcade, dining room, dance hall and even a swimming pool were built on the ship. Unfortunately, the Seacliff Amusement Company went out of business two years later under the financial crunch of the Great Depression. Then, in winter, a storm cracked the ship across her midsection. The Palo Alto was stripped and turned into a fishing pier," concreteships.org wrote.

It's the end of an era for Aptos.

Last winter, El Nino storm waves split the S.S. Palo Alto ship. And on Saturday, the stern connected to the long pier at Seacliff State Beach was tossed onto its side by even bigger, more powerful, winter waves.

AERIAL VIDEO: Cement ship tossed by storm waves

This weekend's waves not only broke the ship, but also records in the Monterey Bay. The National Weather Service said a new wave record was set as the Monterey Bay buoy recorded 34-foot waves. This smashed the previous wave size record, set in 2008 by 32.8-foot waves.



Under the forces of Mother Nature, the S.S. Palo Alto has slowly crumbled into the sea for decades. But locals were still stunned by how dramatically the ship shifted during this swell.

The Aptos History Museum wrote, "While it is shocking to see the damage, it is not unexpected considering its age. The S.S. Palo Alto was launched on May 29, 1919."



The heavy local landmark, while made out of concrete, is nicknamed the "Cement Ship."



Giancarlo Thomae Photography

The S.S. Palo Alto is the most famous concrete ship on the West Coast, according to concreteships.org.



"The Palo Alto was built as an oil tanker by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Oakland, California and launched May 29, 1919. The Palo Alto remained docked in San Fransisco Bay for over 10 years until she was purchased by the Seacliff Amusement Company of Nevada and towed to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. The ship was grounded in the bay and connected to the shore by a long pier. An arcade, dining room, dance hall and even a swimming pool were built on the ship. Unfortunately, the Seacliff Amusement Company went out of business two years later under the financial crunch of the Great Depression. Then, in winter, a storm cracked the ship across her midsection. The Palo Alto was stripped and turned into a fishing pier," concreteships.org wrote.

Jeremy Leonard Photo by Jeremy Leonard

Nick Trujillo Cement Ship / Jan. 21

Cement ship before the storm

Aptos History Museum

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