Following her sale, Nicholas was towed to Zidell Explorations—now Zidell Marine Corporation—in Portland, Oregon.
   Zidell, a family-owned business founded early in the 20th century, began dismantling ships following World War II. By 1960, the company was the nation’s largest ship dismantler, employing several hundred workers. Company records regarding the ex-Nicholas are not available, so the exact dates of her arrival at the yard her scrapping are not known. The location, however, is known—the south side of Portland.
   Like more than 335 other ships scrapped there by 1976, including Ticonderoga, CV 14, the “Nick” was towed up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers and through the bridges of downtown Portland. The Zidell yard was on the west bank, between the present Interstate 5 bridge and the graceful Ross Island Bridge.
   Today, the dismantling site is an empty field, earmarked for development. Zidell’s present-day offices and barge-building facility are on the south side of the Ross Island Bridge, and few landmarks are visible to indicate the scrapping site on the north side. Long-time Portland residents, however, know the location well and can offer directions.
   The photos below show the area from the north and west. Click on any image to view it in more detail.