Welcome to the Stockton Historic Maritime Museum
Home of the USS Lucid (MSO-458)
Museum Ships Weekend 2013 Amateur Radio Event Info!
Support the Stockton Historical Maritime Museum’s Effort to Restore the USS Lucid!
The Stockton Historical Maritime Museum is established to preserve the rich history of the maritime industry of Stockton, California which began in the 19th century. This industry started with freight shipping and passenger transportation from the San Francisco Bay to a departure point into the Gold Rush county of the Mother Lode. Stockton prospered providing a maritime way point for points south, east and north.
As the maritime industry grew, so did the need to build ships and vessels to meet the needs of this shipping industry and provide some of the finest sailing ships, motor yachts, and military craft.
This rich industry bred numerous supporting companies and provided upwards of 30,000 jobs at peak ship building activity during World War II.
Many Stocktonians and their descendants can trace their livelihood and successes back to these companies that relied upon the strong maritime industry.
In 2010 a new museum was founded with a unique mission statement: to provide, maintain and manage a maritime museum dedicated to the cultural heritage and historic recognition of the downtown waterfront.
The Stockton Historical Maritime Museum has acquired the former USS Lucid MSO-458, and a collaboration agreement was established with the San Joaquin County Office of Education to join with the museum in restoring this historic vessel as a floating museum ship with direct historical relevance to the diverse shipbuilding history in Stockton.
The Lucid is an “Aggressive Class” oceangoing minesweeper and a true sister ship (exact copy) of three vessels built for the US Navy in Stockton at the Colberg Boat Works in the early 50’s. Built in 1953 by “Higgins” in New Orleans, LA; she served her country for 24 years until 1976.
The museum ship is currently berthed at the “Building Futures Academy” site, where SJCOE students will be directly involved in all phases of this exciting project. Opportunities to learn and practice skills developed from woodworking preservation and finishing, drafting, electrical, plumbing and metal fabrication, to historical research will all be presented.
Upon return to its original appearance, the Lucid will be moved to become a representative part of the historic downtown waterfront area, near Weber Point, where over a thousand boats and ships were built from the 1850′s thru the 1980′s.
There, the museum ship will become a permanent icon, open to the public for tours and special events. She will serve to honor Stockton’s maritime and shipbuilding history, the men and women who labored there, and those who served aboard the small vessels that were such a big part of the US Navy.
Concept Photo of the USS Lucid docked in Downtown Stockton
Stockton is situated at the head of a navigable channel, several miles east of the San Joaquin River and approximately 90 miles inland from San Francisco Bay. The city’s strategic location along several waterways is what defined Stockton and its surrounding communities. During World War ll, Stockton was host to ten shipyards turning out vessels for the war effort. Today, the city continues to serve as a major shipping point for the many of agricultural and manufactured products of Northern California.
STOCKTON HISTORIC MARITIME MUSEUM [SHMM]| STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA
MISSION
To create a permanent museum providing public access to Stockton’s historical and cultural past involving the use of ships to prosper its creation, growth and prosperity.
USS LUCID MSO – 458 FOUNDATION | STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA
MISSION
To restore, maintain, and operate the former USS Lucid AM/MSO-458 as a charitable and educational project to promote an appreciation of the history of American Naval Minesweepers.
This was my first ship after E M school in San Diego. I went aboard the USS LUCID in dry-dock in 05/63 Guam after several months we sailed to Japan and then back to Long Beach Cal. I made 3 class PO in 05/64 was transfer to the USS EPPING FOREST in Sasebo Japan
Probably after your time, but in 1968 (69?) I was on duty in the wire room at NavCommSta Guam, and handled Epping Forest’s distress call, “…have suffered major explosion and fire…” Was with USS Tolovana (AO-64) in ’69, and while passing through Sasebo, we were invited to remove anything useful from Epping Forest, by then a rusting hulk tied up in one of the caissons. I drove the utility boat that came alongside. As you might imagine, I have a bit of interest in the old E.F., but for literally decades, have been stymied in my attempts to find out anything. Finally, some years back, a guy at work gave me a book titled Weapons that Wait, a history of mine warfare. E.F. is not mentioned in the text, but there is a photo of three guys in coveralls rolling what looks like a gurney along a deck, with the caption, “CIA crew of USS Epping Forest laying mines off coast of North Viet Nam.” At least now I know why I could never find anything…
Superbe,j’adore cette restauration
I would love to be able to get out there to see this.I served on the lucid june of 1960 untill april of 1963.
Radarman 3rd class. I served on two minesweepers USS Exploit MSO 440 and USS Excel MSO 439. It is great to see the Lucid has found a new home and that the last wooden hull mindsweeper of its class will be restored and on display as a museum in Stockton. I served on my two ships from 1968 to 1971 and was deployed to both the Mediteranean Sea and Viet Nam.
My name is Mike Harris. I served aboard the Lucid from March of 1969 till December 1970. I was a STG3 Sonar Technition when at sea and when not in a mine field the radar and radio operator . I reported aboard the Lucid when it was in dry-dock to have a new superstructure built to accommodate the new SQQ-14 sonar and all its auxiliary equipment including the big winch on the main deck forward of the pilot house. When we finished dry-docking we trained on the new system and prepared for a Westpac Cruise which began in February 1970 and ended in September 1970. It is interesting that I have not found any reference to the dry-dock period, new equipment, or any evidence of the 1970 deployment to Vietnam. It seams like 1970 and the last cruise of USS Lucid MSO 458 has disappeared. With my ship now becoming the Museum for the Stockton shipbuilding industry and a representative of the Minesweeping force of the Navy, it would be nice to have her last cruise be part of her history.
I recently have had problems getting medical benefits because I can not find offical evidence that the cruise took place including our time on the DMZ and down on mouth of the Mekong Delta. I wish I had kept more pictures of that time, but the years and many moves have taken its toll on memory and materials. I think you were in the same division as I was during that cruise. I don’t remember the exact names of the other 3 ships that sailed with us, but one of those names ring a bell. If you have any information to share with me, I would appreciate it.
I hope the years have treated you kind and hope to hear from you.
EN3 served on the USS EMBATTLE MSO 434 64-66 and the CAPE MSI 2 66-67 pier 9 long beach
Ken House
Signalman 3rd class. I was a “plank owner” when the Lucid was commissioned in Algiers, Louisiana.
As plank owners, we were involved with fitting out the ship’s spaces for our sea details. Shortly thereafter we “set sail” for Long Beach, California passing through the Panama Canal. Upon arrival, I was transferred to the USS Waxwing that was about to head out for Sasebo, Japan
Deck division seamen Uss Engage Mso 433 built in Stockton 1953. Best darn duty in the Navy.Funny years pass and I myself discovered that behind my house on Flora street in Stockton my ship was built I served aboard the Engage mso 433 during Operation End sweep Vietnam . Cant wait to go aboard the Lucid
i was stationed in stockton waiting on the dynamic to be put in to comm. at colbergs boat works iam a plank owner of the dynamic an also the msoa assosiation i hope some day before i go to be able to come see the lucid
The concept photo of the Lucid on the Stockton waterfront is well done
Frederick F. Fletcher CDR USNR RET
Bravo, il reste des personnes soucieuses de maintenir la mémoire d’hommes et de navires qui ont contribué à écrire l’histoire. J’ai effectué mon service militaire sur un MSO (M 908 Truffaut en 1970 ).
Notre forum (www.begian navy-be) essaiera dans la mesure de nos petits moyens de vous aider.
Bon courage
I have been watching the progress for the last few years in the sea grass levy up north. Was involved the the Save an MSO. Finally looks as if all the hard work of many and still many in the future will find us with a lasting tribute to this great grou of ships. I was part of ship’s company on the USS Guide MSO 447 1958 59. Cssn Thomas Owens . Upon leaving the ship in Dec 1959 was deployed to NavCom Sta Guam MI. for 18 mo. tour. I can’t wait to see the completion of this long adventure.
I was stationed on the Ilusive(MSO448) 1966-1969 saw the lucid many times here (pier 9) and abroad there is something to be said aout wooden ships and iron men.
I am plankowner of the USS Agile MSO-421. Aboard March 1956 to Sept 1958, then USS Pinacle MSO-462 until September 1959. Great ships, great crews. Wish I hadda stayed in Mine Force.
God Bless all.