Before my summer Bay Area experience I didn’t know about San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. Instead, when national parks in that part of California were mentioned I thought of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio, and Muir Woods National Monument. However, this one, Maritime National Historic Park, is fantastic and worth knowing.
A collection of historic ships and watercraft make up the main attractions of this historic park. You can find it right along the waterfront between the famed Pier 39 and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. A visitor center shares the story of the San Francisco Bay with its growth, commerce, and expansion. And, leading up to the pier where the boats are moored, there’s a workshop demonstrating the boat making process, a large steam engine that works, and more.
The Boats
These are open to visitors free of charge. Beyond them sit several vessels at berth that, for a small fee, can be explored and toured. A large ferry shares the tales of the pre-bridge era of San Francisco. You can get up close with a steam-powered tug boat and other smaller craft. But, the Balclutha and another large sailing ship are the real gems.
Balclutha
The Balclutha, also known as the Star of Alaska, has such a storied past of world travels as a salmon, timber, wool, or grain vessel. It is steel-hulled and fully rigged. This 301 foot-long National Historic Landmark is open for visitors to explore the various cabins and learn what life on the seas may have been like. Because of its long service, the ship gives insight into the changes of this life over time including the various peoples who endured it.
The ship’s hold houses an exhibit about the cargo she carried over the years. Some great displays and multimedia presentations bring its history to life.
C.A. Thayer
Another large sailing ship at the park is the schooner C.A. Thayer. This ship is undergoing extensive restoration work in view of the public. Now nearing completion, this lovely ship is almost back to its original beauty and condition. Guests can go on deck, and at special times, they can have a tour with one of the restoration experts below deck. Still being worked on, this is amazing because it is the bones of the ship. When I visited, it didn’t have any kind of flat floor, but was sloped just as the hull is on the outside. You can also see how massive the lumber is.
Maritime Museum
Just up the way from Hyde Street Pier, where these ships are, is the Maritime Museum. There’s also a long jetty stretching out into the bay offering spectacular views of the city and bridge. A few piers up a battleship and submarine sit as additional pieces of the park’s collection.
