The Columbia Story
(continued)
The
Columbia of 1787 was a merchant vessel--a typical utilitarian workhorse.
Merchant vessels (called "merchantmen" by sailors) were unglorified
objects--built cheap to get the job done and then retired or scrapped some years
later. They certainly did not merit a large, colorful "badge" like those of
warships. This would have added to the cost of the vessel, in a business where
cost is (sometime brutally) minimized.
But,
while Disney's custom figurehead for the Columbia might be historically
unrealistic, it seems that they're still justified in their decision. Disney
designers obviously understand the importance of a figurehead on a sailing
ship, and I'm sure they wanted to display their wealth and power on their Columbia
as well, so a large figurehead they got.
Columbia's figurehead has the best view on the boat, perched as she is below
the ship's long "bowsprit." Photo courtesy Matt Walker.
Let's look at a historically accurate view of a merchantman's figurehead.
Befitting the ship's lowly status, the Lady Washington's figurehead is
small, and painted in muted colors. It's partially hidden behind the stays and
the rigging. You might even miss it if you're not explicitly looking for it.
The Lady Washington's figurehead is definitely tiny and subdued compared
to the Columbia's grand sculpture. Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai
A close-up of the figurehead depicting Martha Washington, George Washington's
wife, befitting the ship's name Lady Washington. We don't know if the
busts' measurements are in fact "accurate." Photo courtesy Preston
Nirattisai.
Who sculpted Disneyland's figurehead? Disney historian Michael Broggie
recently posed the question to Blaine Gibson (famous for sculpting many
Disneyland icons, from pirates to presidents). "Yes, Blaine did sculpt the
Columbia figurehead. He did the head, torso and arms and another sculptor did
the dress. (Blaine couldn't recall his name.) It was Walt who decided that the
original Columbia figurehead was "ugly" and he wanted an attractive woman on his
ship! He personally asked Blaine to do it."
Deck
As
a sailor, this is where you'll spend most of your time--on the deck. Here
Disney stays true to history, using wooden planked deck on the Columbia.
In 1780, the caulking--or the black seams you see between the planks--would have
been tarred marlin, pounded in between the planks with a marlinspike and a
hammer. These tarred marlins were used to water-seal the deck to keep the cargo
below dry. Today's Columbia simply uses industrial black caulking that
you can find at any hardware store. The Lady Washington is guilty of
this, too.
One
treatment the Lady gives to its deck that the Columbia doesn't is
tarring of the deck. It's exactly what it sounds like. Tar is poured and wiped
onto the entire deck, making the deck dark, initially very slippery (like
walking on ice), and then sticky. This further protects the wood from the
elements, such as salt water--something Disney's Columbia doesn't have to
worry about.
Columbia's main, or weather deck. Compare this shot with the Lady
Washington's, below, taken from a similar perspective. Photo
courtesy Matt Walker.
The
deck layout on the Columbia is acceptably accurate, considering that she
was designed to put some thousands of people per hour on deck. Her railing is
lower, too, to give the passengers a better view.
But
these minor compromises aside, the deck is still recognizable as belonging to a
sailing ship. The biggest difference between the two sisters is the size--The Lady's
deck is much smaller and can be very crowded. The Columbia is also
missing a raised quarterdeck--a minor compromise to allow wheelchair access
throughout the deck.
Passengers enjoying the sun on the Lady Washington's deck. Photo
courtesy Preston Nirattisai.
Pin rails
On
the deck are pin rails, or, where all those lines you
see are "tied to." The pin rail is the "working end" to
sailors. The sails are set here, and all the maneuvering is done from here. The
uninitiated are often overwhelmed by the amount of lines on board. Just
remember that every line has a purpose, and there are many lines because they
allow sailors to control nearly every aspect of the sails.
The Lady Washington's pin rails. Photo courtesy Preston Nirattisai.
Pin
rails are almost always unlabeled. Historically this just as
well, because sailors were illiterate. Today, sailing ships still do not
label the pins, partly because of tradition, and partly because of pride.
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