The History Of the Selma then and now
Has anyone ever heard of the Selma? It sits in Galveston directly across from the Texas City Dyke. This ship is huge. It is made entirely of concrete and sits above the water. I remember moving to Texas and getting to see this it is only see able by boat. At one time you could walk on it now I believe you cannot but, the massiveness of this ship lives on. Here are some photos of it as it now sits alone. This is a must see and if you enjoy real Texas History you will enjoy this .
The construction of the Selma
This is the upper surface of The Selma This is what she looked like in 1995
The Saltwater Fishing is good around this ship most people catch redfish,drum,sheephead, lots of trout and flounder hang around this structure.
More photos of the Selma
The photos really do not show how big this ship really is.This is a piece of history that is slowly sinking in Galveston bay sands.
NOW 2008
History of The Selma I found this info while scrolling around on the internet
The S. S. Selma was an oil tanker constructed by F. F. Ley & Company, in Mobile, Alabama and launched on June 28, 1919. She is the sister ship of the S. S. Latham.
On May 11, 1920, the Selma struck a jetty at Tampico, Florida and was damaged. She was temporarily repaired and headed to Galveston, Texas for further repairs. Unfortunately, the repair crew in Galveston had no experience with concrete ships. The government finally decided to scrap the ship. A channel was dug in near Pelican Island, Texas and on March 9, 1922, the Selma was taken to her final resting place.
Various plans were made to convert the Selma - a fishing pier, pleasure resort and even an oyster farm - but none ever materialized.
In 1992, the Selma was purchased by A. Pat Daniels, retired editor of the Houston Chronicle and Galveston Daily News. Through his efforts, the Selma has been recognized with a Texas Historical Commission's Official Texas Historical Marker and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Selma has even been designated as the Official Flagship of the Texas "Army" and a State Archeological Landmark by the Texas Antiquities Committee.
Every year, Mr. Daniels throws a birthday party for the Selma.
Location
The S. S. Selma lies on the Pelican Flats in Galveston,Texas.
The Selma served several ports in the Gulf of Mexico quite successfully. Unfortunately she ran aground on the South jetty at Tampico, Mexico on May 11, 1920, creating a size able crack about 60 ft. long in her hull. She was towed into Galveston for repairs. Although the damage was repairable, the dry-dock crew lacked the knowledge and had no experience repairing a hull of such material. With no guarantee of proper restoration, the U.S. Government's Emergency Fleet Corporation decided not to gamble.
A channel 1,500 ft. long and 25 ft. deep was dug to a point just off Galveston near Pelican Island's eastern shoreline. After being stripped of all valuable equipment, on March 9, 1922 she was towed out to her final berth, and laid to rest. This left the hull partly submerged, although awash when seas were rough.
The Selma has over the years been object of many failed plans to convert her for use as a fishing pier, pleasure resort and oyster farm. Long a source of curiosity and local legend, she remains important to concrete and academic experts as an object of study of her construction and durability following decades of exposure to marine conditions.
The Selma is still quite visible today from the historic marker on Pelican Island and has become an interesting artifact to be viewed by the locals and visitor tourists alike. Although she will never sail again, she has been proudly resurrected by Daniels and other proud Texans who believe she lives on in spirit.
