How to Visit San Francisco’s USS Pampanito

USS Pampanito

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San Francisco, calcium 94133

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+1 415-775-1943

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Situated in San Francisco ‘s Fisherman ‘s Wharf region, the USS Pampanito ( SS-383 ) is a Balao-class submarine that today operates as a floating museum and memorial for the Navy ‘s “ silent military service ” ( submarines ). It ‘s partially of the larger San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, highlighting Pacific Coast nautical history through numerous stand-alone attractions, including a bevy of historic vessels, a visitors center and a nautical museum. For a look into the Pacific ‘s water travel past, there ‘s no better room to spend an afternoon .

history of the USS Pampanito

The diesel-electric locomotive power USS Pampanito was launched into service on July 12, 1943 along the US East Coast, making her way across the Panama Canal en road to Pearl Harbor, where she arrived on Valentine ‘s Day, 1944. Over the next copulate of years she embarked on six individual war patrols — all in the Pacific Ocean — over which clock she sank six japanese ships, damaged four others, and owned six WWII battle stars. badly damaged on her inaugural war patrol, the submarine was subsequently refitted and repaired at Pearl Harbor ‘s Midway Island .

After the war, the celebrated vessel proceeded to San Francisco, and was decommissioned at nearby Mare Island on December 15, 1945. Although it sat unused, the Navy maintained the Pampanito to be reactivated at any time. In April 1960 she was turned into a naval training vessel at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and continued in this function until 1971. It was n’t until 1976 that the Pampanito became a memorial and museum, first opening to the public in March 1982 .

The cautiously restored vessel maintains its 1945 appearance and immediately hosts thousands of visitors per annum, offering both self-guided audio tours and pre-scheduled docent-led tours led by docents. Along with San Francisco ‘s SS Jeremiah O’Brien, it celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary in 2018 .

What to See and Do

The Pampanito is a National Historic Landmark moored at Pier 45 in the heart of San Francisco ‘s Fisherman ‘s Wharf, and self-guided audio tours begin on the Main Deck Aft, visiting everything from the vessel ‘s torpedo room to its engine rooms, gang ‘s mess and gallery, radio room, and pump board along the means. diverse exhibits are set up throughout, with the sound recording providing diverse details of each american samoa well as as first-hand accounts from erstwhile onboard personnel .

The ship ‘s still-working parts include its periscope, one bomber tube, engines, and an onboard ice-cream godhead. There ‘s tied a sweep flying from her mast, representing that the submarine made a “ clean sweep ” of the sea ‘s enemies .

In addition to operating this historic vessel, the San Francisco Maritime Park Association besides runs education programs for both children and adults that take place onboard throughout the class, including overnight stays utilizing the Pampanito ‘s 48 scat beds. There are besides sea hovel sing-a-longs every first Saturday even of the calendar month aboard the Hyde Street Pier ‘s fleet of turn-of-century ships, traveling exhibits viewable at the historic Maritime Museum just across the street from Ghirardelli Square in Aquatic Park — an Streamline Moderne-style social organization known for its distinct ocean murals — a massive library archive of maritime books, maps, and charts dating back centuries, and the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park Visitor Center, located in the like historic brick cannery build as the Argonaut Hotel. The parking lot hosts an annual Maritime Beer Fest each April, and offers exquisite views of Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge all class long .

Take a stroll along the park ‘s circular Aquatic Park Pier ( Muni Pier ), or set sweep on the park ‘s historic scow schooner ALMA, a 1891 ship that ‘s the last of her kind. The Hyde Street Pier Small Boat Shop offers an opportunity to witness traditional gravy boat build and hands-on boat repair. Waterfront walk tours leave from the lobby of the Argonaut Hotel weekends at 10:30 a.m .

In June 2018, Hyde Pier ‘s iconic 1886 three-masted Balclutha improbable ship has temporarily relocated to nearby Alameda for alimony, but is scheduled to return in 2019 .

The Pampanito is open to visitors casual. Call ( 415 ) 775-1943 for specific times .

Where to Stay, Eat, and Drink

Located in the same historic build and adjacent to the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park ‘s visitor center, San Francisco ‘s luxury boutique Argonaut Hotel is the arrant locate for amply immersing yourself in the city ‘s oceangoing history. With its exposed brick walls, master timbers, and nautical fabrics, the property is overflowing with character and boasts the Blue Mermaid Bar & Restaurant, where seafood is the star and cocktails besides boast their own nautical themes .

For a truthful San Francisco treat weave over to Bistro Boudin, known for its legendary sourdough bread — particularly its bread lawn bowling, filled to the brim with either traditional clam chowder or crab & corn bisque. Or grab a seat at the measure and enjoy a fabled irish chocolate at the Buena Vista, right across the street from the Powell-Hyde cable cable car reversion. If it ‘s delicious seafood ( think “ line-caught ” crazy c and seared Alaskan halibut ) with waterfront views you ‘re after, Scoma ‘s has been a neighborhood front-runner since 1965 .

Getting There

Both the Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason cable car lines offer direct access to Fisherman ‘s Wharf, along with the historic F-line MUNI streetcar, which runs along Market Street from the Castro. Both the East Bay ‘s Bay Area Rapid Transit ( BART ) and CalTrain ( by way of the MUNI N-Judah ) connect with the F-line in front of San Francisco ‘s Ferry Building .

Facilities

There are public restrooms at Pier 39 and the end of Hyde Street at the waterfront, and an individual bathrooms at Bay and Taylor streets .