Copyright: National Park Service
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
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Description - This unique park, located at the west end of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, includes the fleet of historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier, the Maritime Museum, and the Maritime Museum Library. Each year: over a half million visitors board turn-of-the-century ships and tour the Museum; hundreds learn traditional arts -- like boat building and woodworking -- in Park classes and workshops; and thousands of schoolchildren spend the night aboard the 1895 schooner C.A. Thayer as part of an innovative educational program. The Park offers history, music and craft programs for all ages.
Attractions
- This park provides an opportunity for visitors to discover the cosmopolitan maritime world that dominated commerce in San Francisco from its beginning. In the Museum Building you may explore two floors of exhibits chronicling different periods of West Coast maritime history inside this ship-shaped, streamline, modern structure. Mast sections, jutting spars and figureheads are arranged among the colorful fish and gleaming tiles of muralist Hilaire Hiler's expressionist vision of Atlantis. Displays include panels, video, oral history re-creations, models and interactive exhibits. In April, Park Rangers present a special guided history tour focusing on the building itself.
At the Hyde Street Pier large vessels that may be boarded include 1886 square-rigger Balclutha, 1895 schooner C.A. Thayer and 1890 steam ferryboat Eureka. Also berthed here are the 1891 scow schooner Alma, 1907 steam tug Hercules and 1914 paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall. Small Craft are a very important part of the collection at the maritime park. It contains 100-plus traditional and significant crafts. This is a fine introduction to boat building and the maritime trades. In April, the Small Boat Shop offers an Oar-making class.
Recreation - Visitors can participate in frequent interpretive programs like "The Dead Horse Ceremony," "Navigation: Art of the Sea Captain" and "Music of the Deepwater Sailors," and enjoy hands-on exhibits, waysides, videos and tours.
In Victorian and Aquatic Park visitors can picnic, watch ship traffic on San Francisco Bay or just rest from a run through the commercialized portion of Fisherman's Wharf. Lawns, beautiful landscaping and park benches are available for visitors to enjoy. Climate - San Francisco can be foggy and windy at any time of the year. Visitors should wear layers since the climate can change very quickly. The Bay Area is known for its microclimates which can change dramatically from neighborhood to neighborhood. The warmest months tend to be September and October. November to April or May is considered the rainy season. The average annual temperature is 62.5F (16.9C). Location -
The Maritime Museum is located on San Francisco Bay, at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California.
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