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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Magdalena (YFB-54)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal

Ferry Boat:

Built by John W. Steffen, Portland, OR

Completed for Oregon & Washington Ferry & Nav. Co., Portland, OR as ferry City of Seattle (ON 126536), 1888

Sold to Martinez-Benicia Ferry & Transportation Co., San Francisco CA, 1913

Purchased by the Navy from City of Martinez, CA, 10 August 1944

Allocated to the 12th Naval District

Renamed Magdalena, 09 September 1944

Placed in service for service between Mare Island Navy Yard and Vallejo, CA, 23 November 1944

Placed out of service, 14 October 1946

Struck from the Naval Register, 07 February 1947

Transferred to the Maritime Commission for disposal, 25 December 1947

Registered to City of Martinez, CA, 1948

Out of documentation, 1955

Registered as yacht to Alexis Tellis, Sausalito, CA, 1960

Placed on pilings and used as offices for Yellow Ferry Harbor, Sausalito, CA, date unknown

Upper works placed on concrete barge and in use as houseboat at Sausalito

Specifications:
Displacement 196 gross tons / 124 net tons
Length 121' 6"
Beam 33' 2"
Draft 8' 6"
Speed unknown
Complement unknown
Armament none
Propulsion sidewheeler, 1 cylinder steam, 270hp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
1435005401	24k	*City of Seattle* underway in Puget Sound, circa 1891. *City of Seattle* was operated by the West Seattle Land & Improvement Co., between downtown Seattle and West Seattle. Photo taken by Frank La Roche, from the Frank La Roche Collection, via the University of Washington Libraries. Special Collections Division.	Robert Hurst
1435005402	48k	Undated picture of *City of Seattle* as reconfigured for service with the Benicia and Martinez Ferry and Transportation Co. The photo was taken at Martinez, CA. University of Washington Libraries. Special Collections Division.	Robert Hurst
1435005403	878k	Former ferry *City of Seattle, mounted on pilings and painted yellow, in use as a house and office for the owner of a marina known as the Yellow Ferry Harbor in Sausalito, CA. Photo taken by Frank Schulenburg, 03 December 2012. Photo via Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported*	Robert Hurst

Magdalena (YFB-54)
DANFS history entry located at the Naval History and Heritage Command website

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
City of Seattle (steam ferry)

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This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 30 January 2025