Tacoma's Tall Ship: The Extraordinary Journey of the Odyssey

by Emily Molina

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 21, 2024

About the author

Emily is a freelance writer and author originally from the Midwest. She is a former International Flight Attendant and military spouse with a love for the sea and history, which has led her to pursue new stories and adventures. Currently located in the PNW, her writing and content can be found in various publications, including South Sound Magazine, Northwest Travel & Life Magazine, Experience Cannon Beach, Visit Tacoma Pierce County, Arcadia Publishing, Showcase Magazine, 425 Magazine, Northwest Yachting Magazine and 48North, among others. A proud member of North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) and the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). A passion for history and the sea, combined with a deep curiosity about people, draws her to historic places. While pursuing a story, she discovered the Odyssey, sparking a newfound love that inspired her not only to learn how to sail but to write her first book, Tacoma's Tall Ship- The Extraordinary Journey of the Odyssey, available now: Order here: https://a.co/d/ifkEHO6
https://muckrack.com/emily-molina-6

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading about Tacoma’s Tall Ship is like stepping back in history. You become acquainted with the Odyssey from her beginnings as a wealthy family's toy in the period just before WWI. The original owners, the Henry family, who had connections to the Vanderbilts and socialized with Ernest Hemingway and Humphrey Bogart, donated their tall ship to the Navy when war broke out. You follow her notable career as a Navy research ship advancing oceanography and sonar sciences while traveling from New York, Florida, California, Washington, and worldwide locations as the USS Saluda.
Saluda became the first Navy vessel to complete an ocean-going race on the West Coast, with Humphery Bogart’s yacht finishing in second place. In the 1950s, well after the war years, she became known as the Odyssey again and served as a Sea Scout ship, introducing youth to maritime experiences. In March 2021, maintenance issues combined with the worldwide pandemic ended her Sea Scout years.
The decision was made to retire Odyssey from Sea Scouting after more than four decades of serving youth in the Puget Sound region. Author Emily Molina has a personal connection to the fabled ship. Her love of the Odessey shins through every well-chosen word. Many photos also help tell the history of the magnificent ship. This is a must-read for any maritime reader or history lover.