| San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park | |
|---|---|
 Historic ships docked atHyde Street Pier, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park | |
    | |
| Location | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°48′23″N122°25′25″W / 37.80639°N 122.42361°W /37.80639; -122.42361 |
| Area | 50 acres (20 ha)[1] |
| Established | June 27, 1988 (1988-06-27) |
| Visitors | 4,224,897 (in 2011)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | www |
| Official name | Aquatic Park Historic District |
| Designated | January 26, 1984 |
| Reference no. | 84001183[3] |
| Official name | San Francisco Maritime National Historic Site |
| Designated | June 27, 1988 |
| Reference no. | 01000281[4] |
TheSan Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located inSan Francisco, California, United States. The park includes a fleet of historic vessels, a visitor center, a maritime museum, and a library/research facility. Formerly referred to as theSan Francisco Maritime Museum, the collections were acquired by theNational Park Service in 1978. The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park was authorized in 1988; the maritime museum is among the park's many cultural resources. The park also incorporates theAquatic Park Historic District, bounded byVan Ness Avenue,Polk Street, andHyde Street.
PhilanthropistAlma de Bretteville Spreckels' last major project was the construction of the San Francisco Maritime Museum. When it opened in 1951, her collection ofmodel ships that had been on display at the 1939–40Golden Gate International Exposition was the main exhibit. She had had a feud with museum founding director, Karl Kortum,[5] and as a result, did not receive much recognition for her role in the museum's establishment.[6][7][8][9]
The historic fleet of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is moored at the park'sHyde Street Pier.[citation needed] The fleet consists of the following major vessels:
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The fleet also includes over one hundred small craft.
The visitor center is housed in the park's 1909 waterfront warehouse, located at the corner of Hyde and Jefferson streets. The City of San Francisco declared the four-story brick structure a historic landmark in 1974, and the building was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1975. Inside, exhibits (including a first orderFresnel lighthouse lens and a shipwrecked boat) tell the story of San Francisco's colorful and diverse maritime heritage. The visitor center also contains a theater and an information desk.[citation needed]
The maritime museum used to be housed in aStreamline Moderne (lateArt Deco) building that is the centerpiece of theAquatic Park Historic District, aNational Historic Landmark at the foot of Polk Street and a minute's walk from the visitor center and Hyde Street Pier. The building was originally built (starting in 1936) by theWPA as a publicbathhouse, and its interior is decorated with fantastic and colorfulmurals, created primarily by artist andcolor theoreticianHilaire Hiler. The architects were William Mooser Jr. and William Mooser III. It is currently the San Francisco Senior Center.[11]
The Research Center describes itself as "[t]he premier resource for San Francisco and Pacific Coast maritime history. Originating in 1939, the collections have become the largest maritime collection on the west coast and the largest museum and research collection in the National Park Service."[12]
The Center boast collections dating back to 1536 and including more than:[12]
The Center does not have passenger lists.[10]
The Center also has storage facilities in San Francisco andSan Leandro.[10]
The visitor center,Hyde Street Pier, and Maritime Museum are all situated adjacent to the foot of Hyde Street and at the western end of theFisherman's Wharf district. The park headquarters and Maritime Research Center are located inFort Mason, some 10 minutes walk to the west of the other sites. The Beach and Hyde Street terminal of theSan Francisco cable car system adjoins the main site, while the Jones Street terminal of theF Market historic streetcar line is some 5 minutes walk to the east.
Aquatic Park is a popular place foropen water swimming, both for recreation and training. TheSouth End Rowing Club andDolphin Club are located in Aquatic Park.
Bill Pickelhaupt, "San Francisco's Aquatic Park," Charleston, SC, 2005,ISBN 0-7385-3084-0
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