John Wayne's Yacht Steers Into Historic Registry
John Wayne, one of America's favorite film stars, rugged Hollywood icon and Navy buff, sailed the seven seas (or maybe just the Pacific Ocean) in his 136-foot, wooden-hulled World War II-era minesweeper from 1962 until shortly before his death in 1979. The yacht, dubbed Wild Goose, became a recent addition to the 200-some other boats on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Daily Pilot.
"While our focus has, and perhaps always will be, predominantly on buildings, the programs include a broad spectrum of property types, from archaeological sites to bridges, locomotives, lighthouses, historic districts and ships," Paul S. Lusignan, an historian with the National Register of Places, said in an email.
Wild Goose's nomination for a National Register listing by the U.S. Department of the Interior was certified in May by the State Historical Resources Commission, who noted that the vessel was "cited in Wayne's biographies as his sanctuary and proudest possession."
"There's just a real special connection he had. He just treasured that boat," Wayne's daughter, Aissa, said.
Gracing the silver screen, the yacht appeared in 1967's The President's Analyst and 1968's Skidoo. Wild Goose cruised into television in a part in the 1960s show The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
"The Wild Goose was eligible for a listing because it met the criteria of being historically significant through its association with the life of an important person, official documents show," explains Daily Pilot.
Anchored in Newport Harbor, Wild Goose currently serves as a working vessel operated by Hornblower Cruises & Events.
