Dock of the Bay: Visiting San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park
Posted by Sherezada on Dec 21, 2009
Sitting between the cheerful bustle of Fisherman’s Wharf and the peaceful greenery of Fort Mason is San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
Though the park is small (only 34 acres), it boasts more national historic landmarks than any other unit in the National Park Service, from tall ships to an Art Deco bathhouse. It definitely deserves more than the curious glances many visitors give it on their way to more well-known activities in the area, especially since most of the park’s attractions are either free or only $5.
The Maritime Park is a leisurely waterfront walk away from the San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel, and is also easily accessible from the Powell-Hyde cable car line (which starts two blocks from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel).
Hyde Street Pier
The hallmark of the park is the Hyde Street Pier, which houses a fleet of 19th and early 20th century ships, as well as a small boat collection with more than 100 traditional and significant small craft.
Visitors can climb aboard the tall ships — including the square-rigger Balclutha, star of the 1935 film Mutiny on the Bounty — and get a taste for what life was like for the seafaring folk who helped shape the San Francisco waterfront. Many free programs are held on the ships themselves, from monthly sea chantey sing-a-longs to more hands-on activities such as model ship-making and scrimshaw carving.
Admission to board all the ships is free on the first Sunday of the month. Otherwise, it’s $5 for adults and free for children 16 and under. The pier is open from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., with last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Tours and Self-Guided Walks
You can take part in a ranger-led tour, or you can go at your own pace using the park’s new cell phone audio tour. The self-guided walk consists of a series of recordings — narrated by knowledgeable park rangers — that provide insight into the fantastic collection of historic ships and other resources preserved at the park.
Visitors can choose from 28 different topics at eight stations along the Hyde Street Pier. The two- to three-minute recordings cover subjects ranging from "Danger and Adventure on the High Seas" to "Swimmers in San Francisco Bay," and transport listeners back in time to the era of sailing and steam ships.
There is no fee to listen to the recordings, except for the cost of mobile phone minutes. (You can listen to the recordings from any phone by calling 1-415-294-6754.)
You can also do a self-guided tour the old-fashioned (phone-free) way, with a downloadable map that details a 0.75-mile tour from the Visitor Center to the park’s library in Fort Mason.
Historic Landmark District
The Maritime Park also contains the Aquatic Park Historic Landmark District, which includes an urban beach, lawn area with bocce ball courts, the Powell-Hyde cable car turn-around, and more.
At the heart of the park is the historic Bathhouse, a striking Streamline Moderne style structure built in 1939. It currently houses the city’s Maritime Museum, though at this time, the museum portion of the Bathhouse remains closed for renovations.
You can still check out the lobby, which features a spectacular mural designed by internationally renowned artist Hilare Hiler. With the museum’s displays currently in storage to facilitate the building’s restoration, visitors can fully experience the artist’s fantastic underwater vision without obstruction. The lobby is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week, when a park ranger is on hand to answer questions.
The Visitor Center is also a good stop if you’re looking to learn more about San Francisco’s rich maritime heritage. Built in a 1908 brick cannery warehouse, the center is a museum itself, with several detailed, hands-on exhibits. Get a close-up view of a first-order Fresnel lighthouse lens, and check out the free programs, which include lectures and film screenings. The center is located at the corner of Hyde and Jefferson streets, and is open from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.