San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Address:Building E, California
Tel: (415) 447-5000

All aboard turn-of-the-century ships! Located in the Fisherman's Wharf, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park lets you get up close and personal with the authentic sights and sounds of Pacific Coast maritime history.

The Maritime Museum, shaped like an Art Deco ship, is filled original exhibits including intricate model crafts and a collection of shipwreck photographs and historic marine scenes, including an 1851 photo of ships deserted by crews who ran off to participate in the gold rush. Two blocks east, at the park's Hyde Street Pier, are several historic ships which are open to the public, including the restored Balclutha, one of the last surviving square-riggers, which carried grain from California at a near-record speed of 300 miles a day. Also docked there is the Eureka, the last of 50 paddle-wheel ferries from the ferryboat era, fully restored to its original grandeur. Visitors can also stop by the C.A. Thayer, the black-hulled, three-masted, lumber trading ship, or the Alma, a two-masted scow schooner (one of the last ones around!), originally used to bring hay to the horses of San Francisco. Visitors can tour the museum and learn traditional arts like boatbuilding and woodworking and there are also educational, musical, and crafts programs for kids and adults of all ages, which provide unique opportunities to learn more about the nation's great maritime heritage.

To get to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park from the San Francisco International Airport/US101, follow signs for 101 North Golden Gate Bridge. Get off at Mission Street and make a right. At Van Ness Avenue, turn left. Continue on Van Ness for about 30 blocks and make a right on North Point Street and then a left on Polk Street. You'll see the site up ahead. Visitors of all ages will have a great time exploring the old ships and learning about U.S. maritime history—have fun!