David S.
Yelp
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located in San Francisco, California along the San Francisco Bay shoreline in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood.
Since San Francisco Maritime does not cover a large area, walking is the best way to get around. City streets are adjacent to the park but no public road goes through it. There is no parking lot, and street parking is limited. Using public transportation is an excellent way to visit, and the turnaround for one of the famous cable car lines (Hyde) is in the park.
The Bathhouse building was built in 1939 as a joint project of the City of San Francisco and the New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA), and is the focal point of the Aquatic Park Historic Landmark District. This unique structure was designed in the Streamline Moderne style, a late offshoot of the Art Deco period, and mimics the clean lines of an ocean liner.
Main Resources of the Park
A fleet of historic vessels are moored at Hyde Street Pier, an extension of Hyde Street. The ships are open to visitors year-round. A short, level walk to the end of the pier rewards visitors with great views of San Francisco Bay.
The Visitor Center, located across the street from Hyde Street Pier, features information and award-winning exhibits.
Just outside the Visitor Center is an open, grassy area overlooking Aquatic Park beach and cove with access to the water's edge. Visitors can see breathtaking views to the north of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Sausalito in Marin County.
Two blocks away from the Visitor Center is the Maritime Museum in the Aquatic Park Bathhouse building.
The Maritime Research Center, located in Fort Mason Center, is a 10-minute walk from Hyde Street Pier through Aquatic Park. Appointments are required.
Stand on the stern of BALCLUTHA, face west to feel the fresh wind blowing in from the Pacific Ocean. Located in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park offers the sights, sounds, smells and stories of Pacific Coast maritime history.The park is all about History & Culture and you will find essential information here for exploring and discovering the park's stories of Pacific coast maritime history.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located on the edge of San Francisco Bay in the Fisherman's Wharf neighborhood and can be visited year-round.
Begin at the Visitor Center (Phone: 415-447-5000), located at 499 Jefferson Street (Zip Code: 94109) at the corner of Hyde Street. There, Park Rangers will help you plan your visit.
From the Visitor Center, cross Jefferson Street to Hyde Street Pier and visit the park's collection of floating historic ships. Here, you can also see breathtaking views of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
From Hyde Street Pier, take a short stroll across the park to see the exhibits in the Maritime Museum located in the ship-shaped Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building.
There at the Park you will see:
People - Biographies and stories of sailors and waterfront characters.
Places - Enjoy guides to the historic Aquatic Park and the San Francisco waterfront.
Stories - Tales of struggle and daring on the high seas, voyages along the byways of the waters and sloughs of San Francisco Bay and Delta, and many more await your discovery.
Collections - Discover the largest National Park Service museum, archives, library and small craft collection. Here you can learn about the park's fleet of historic ships and small craft. Access information about the Maritime Research Center and the museum, archives and library collections.
Ships include:
1886 square-rigger Balclutha
1895 schooner C. A. Thayer
1890 steam ferryboat Eureka
1891 scow schooner Alma
1907 steam tug Hercules
1914 paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall
1890 (circa) San Francisco Bay Ark
1915 steam schooner Wapama