Kalakala
The Kalakala was a Washington State Ferry which plied the waters of Puget Sound from 1935 until her retirement in 1967. She was notable for her unique streamlined hull, art deco styling, and luxurious amenities. The vessel was a popular attraction for locals and tourists, and was second only to the Space Needle in popularity among visitors to Seattle.
The origin of the name "Kalakala" is obscure; the original owner said it was a Northwestern Native American word meaning "flying bird," but no such word is known to exist. It may just have been an inside joke among the owner and his associates.
After her retirement, the vessel was sold to a seafood processing company to work as a factory ship, then was beached in Kodiak, Alaska. A group of artists in Seattle discovered the rusting hulk in 1984, purchased the vessel, and managed to refloat her and tow her back to Seattle in 1998. The ferry has since been a source of controversy, as her owners were unable to raise sufficient funds to refurbish the vessel or even to keep her moored. The vessel was sold in 2004 to a private investor, who first moved her to Neah Bay, then, under threat of legal action from the local tribe, moved the vessel to Tacoma, Washington.