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1850
William Kelly visits a friend whose office is on the deck of the Niantic.
Mr. Kelly describes the ship: "Her hull was divided into two large warehouses,
entered by spacious doorways on the sides, and her bulwarks raised upon about eight feet,
affording a range of excellent offices on the deck, at the level of which a wide
balcony was carried round, surmounted with a verandah, that was approached by a broad and
handsome stairway. Both stores and offices found tenants at higher rates than tenements
of similar dimensions on shore would command...."
The English artist, Samuel Marryat, describes the scene: "The front of the city extending
rapidly into the sea, as water-lots are filled up with the sand-hills which the steam
excavators remove. This has left many of the old ships, that a year ago were beached as
storehouses, in a curious position; for the filled-up space that surrounds them has been
built on for some distance, and new streets run between them and the sea, so that a stranger
puzzles himself for some time to ascertain how the Apollo and Niantic became perched in the
middle of the street; for although he has heard of ships being thrown up `high and dry,' he has
probably sufficient nautical experience to observe that the degree of `height' and `dryness'
enjoyed by the Apollo and Niantic resulted from some other cause than `the fury of the gale.'"
May 4, 1851
The Niantic burns to the waterline in San Francisco's fifth great fire.
On the site was erected a hotel also called the Niantic, the
foundation of which rested on what remained of the hull.
1872
Twenty years ago, the new Niantic Hotel was the finest hotel in San Francisco,
but those halcyon days were long past. The Niantic Hotel is demolished to make
way for a modern four-story business block.
During excavation, workmen dig up thirty-five baskets of Jacquesson Fils champagne
that had been buried since the 1851 fire. The champagne still effervesces slightly
on uncorking, and is of very fair flavor.
1907
As San Francisco recovers from last year's Earthquake and Fire, a third Niantic Building
is erected on the site.
1978
During excavation for new construction, fragments of the ship are
discovered including more bottles of French champagne. These artifacts are
exhibited at the National Maritime Museum in Aquatic Park.
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