OurSausalito.com

The Insiders Guide to Sausalito

  • Restaurants
    • Sausalito Dining Main Menu
    • Full List of Sausalito Restaurants
    • Best Dinner Restaurants
    • Best Lunch Cafes, Deli’s & Diners
    • Best View Restaurants
    • Best Breakfast Places
    • Spots to Meet Singles
  • Ferries
    • Sausalito Ferry Guide (Main Ferry Menu)
    • Sausalito Ferry Information (Both Routes & Piers)
    • Sausalito Ferry Ticket Prices
    • Best Restaurants Near Sausalito Ferry
    • Ferry Building Guide 2021
    • Full List of SF Bay Ferries
  • Fun
    • 1 Great Hour, Day or More in Sausalito
    • Guide to Fun Things to Do in Sausalito
    • Introduction to Sausalito
    • Muir Woods
    • Golden Gate Bridge
    • Sausalito Houseboats
    • Wine Tasting in Sausalito
    • Bay Model Visitor Center in Sausalito
    • Bay Area Discovery Museum Sausalito 2022
  • Hotels
    • Sausalito Hotels Guide
    • Best Sausalito Hotels
    • Sausalito Hotel Rates
    • Romantic Sausalito Hotels
  • Houseboats
    • Sausalito Houseboats Main Menu 2022
    • Sausalito Houseboats 2022: How and Where to Visit
    • Taj Mahal Houseboat
    • Forbes Island Houseboat
  • Events
    • Sausalito Summer Jazz & Blues by the Bay
    • July 4 Sausalito Fireworks, Parade & Picnic
    • Sausalito Art Festival
    • Blue Angels & Fleet Week Events & Viewing
    • Winterfest & Christmas in Sausalito
    • Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks
    • Summer Sausalito Houseboats Tour
  • Transit
    • Sausalito Bus Tours
    • From San Francisco
    • From SF Airport (SFO)
    • From Oakland Airport
    • Sausalito Ferries Main Menu 2022
    • Uber, Lyft and Taxis in Sausalito
    • Driving in Sausalito
    • Mill Valley – Sausalito Multi-Use Path (Bay Trail)
  • Muir Woods
    • Muir Woods Information Main Menu
    • Muir Woods Parking & Options When It’s Sold Out
    • Muir Woods Shuttle
    • Muir Woods Ticket Prices
    • How to Get to Muir Woods: Drive, Ride or Hike
    • GGNRA & Marin Headlands
  • Real Estate
    • Sausalito Houseboats for Sale 2022
  • About
You are here: Home / Sausalito Houseboats Main Menu 2022 / Jean Varda, Alan Watts & the S.S. Vallejo Ferry in Sausalito

Jean Varda, Alan Watts & the S.S. Vallejo Ferry in Sausalito

FS Vallejo Ferry, Alan Watts, Jean Varda

Jean Varda, Alan Watts & The S.S. Vallejo Ferry in Sausalito

We see lots of press on two of Sausalito’s most famous houseboats, the Taj Mahal and Forbes Island.  But the two most famous boats in 20th Century Sausalito history are both retired ferries: the S.S. Vallejo and the S.S. Charles Van Damme.

Greek-French Artist Jean Varda, who was part of the Paris salons of the 1920’s with Picasso, Hemingway, Stein et al, partnered with English artist Gordon Onslow Ford to buy the ferryboat S.S. Vallejo and moor it in Sausalito in 1948, beginning a major expansion of the artist presence on our waterfront.

Philosopher Alan Watts replaced Ford as Varda’s partner in 1961, and ushered in another area of growth in the Sausalito creative community. The Vallejo was used for over 30 years as a private retreat for meetings and events hosted by Varda (who died in 1971 and whose funeral for many signaled the end of an era), Watts (who died in 1973) and several successors.

Seven Degrees of Separation Dept.:  During this time Varda taught at the California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute) one of our Editors’ grandmothers was one of his students.

The Vallejo was fitted with a new fiberglass hull a few years ago and extensively remodeled. It is now a private residence in Sausalito. It is not open to visitors.

Interested in Sausalito history?  Check out the Sausalito Historical Society!

 

SEARCH OURSAUSALITO.COM

Recent Posts

  • June 12 Sausalito Play in Dunphy Park Relives Historic Desegregation Case
  • SAF Sausalito Art For Ukraine Benefit Art Sale May 21-22
  • Video from the January 15, 2022 Tsunami in Sausalito
  • Sausalito Art and Music Weekend on Princess St.
  • Marin Opera Lovers: 2021 Sausalito Arias in the Afternoon Sunday, Aug. 15!

SUBSCRIBE TO OURSAUSALITO.COM

Enter your Email


Preview | Powered by FeedBlitz

We will never share nor sell your email address!

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in