Now fully restored and with all requisite permits secured, Sausalito's iconic
sea lion sculpture will soon return to its home on the southern waterfront.
The 1,900 lbs. bronze sculpture has been ashore since January 2023, when it was lifted to safety after breaking loose from its cement platform during a winter storm.
The sea lion became one of Sausalito's most recognizable landmarks from the moment it was surreptitiously installed by its creator, artist Al Sybrian, and friends in 1957. The original concrete sculpture was recast in bronze in the mid-1960s to help it withstand the elements.
The sculpture's new concrete platform will be installed during low tide on Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25.
At approximately 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 3, the sea lion will be crane-lifted onto the new platform and bolted in place.
Funds for the sculpture's restoration, the design and fabrication of the new platform, and ongoing maintenance were raised by the
Sausalito Foundation. The Sausalito Foundation also covered the cost of repairs after a similar mishap in 2004.
Restoration work was performed by maritime businesses in the Marinship, including Universal Sonar Mount, whose owner Reason Bradley made a brief presentation to the City Council on June 18. Bradley explained that the use of metals consistent with the original casting and the deployment of zincs against corrosion should protect the sea lion for the next 100 years.
The sea lion would have been back in place long ago if not for an extensive permitting process that required four separate permits from federal, state, and regional agencies. The original installation and the 2004 repairs were performed without permits.
