Hundreds of vessels dock along the San Francisco Bay, but if you ’ ra walk along the waterfront, the impressive sail boats, tug boats and ferries docked at Hyde Street Pier will likely catch your eye. These ships are contribution of the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, and with entrance you can go aboard and explore them. The vessels in the fiddling evanesce were built in the recently 1800s and early 1900s. Going aboard and exploring these ships is a fun manner to learn more about the history of San Francisco and shipping along the west coast around the turn of the hundred .
San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park besides includes a Visitor Center, the Maritime Museum, and the Maritime Research Center .
Visiting San Francisco? We’ve lived in the Bay Area for the last two years and love exploring locally. Check out some of our favorites hikes while you’re in the city!
Reading: San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park: Tips for Touring the Ships at Hyde Street Pier
How to get there
The San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park is located close to other popular tourist attractions in San Francisco ; it ’ sulfur situated equitable north of Ghirardelli Square, and west of Fisherman’s Wharf. It ’ s easy to get here on foot from either of those locations .
If you ’ ra travel by cable car, there are a few free parking spots in the small Maritime Museum Parking area. It ’ south located directly across from the Aquatic Park. There is besides free four hour parking on Van Ness Ave, fair north of North Point Street. If you start venturing west close to Fisherman ’ mho Wharf, you ’ ll likely end up in a lot that costs good over $ 20 .
respective busbar lines have a stop near the museum. Just get directions via public transit using Google Maps .
Hours
The ships on the Hyde Street Pier are open 9:30am to 5:00pm daily, with the last entry at 4:30pm .
Entrance Fees
entrance to the Hyde Street Pier ships is by person since you ’ rhenium walk in. It ’ randomness $ 15 per person, and children 15 and under are free .
The America the Beautiful National Park pass will besides get you ( and I believe 3 other people ) entry into the park. At $ 80, the National Park pass is a great deal ! It besides works for Muir Woods National Monument located about 25 minutes north of San Francisco in Marin County .
There are respective detached days– you can check the schedule here .
Progams at the Park
Since the San Francisco Maritime Museum and Hyde Street Pier are part of the national park system, it offers a junior ranger program. My son has fun doing the booklets for these, and of course loves earning a badge at the end. It ’ s a great way for everyone to learn more about the station we ’ ra visit .
There are other texas ranger programs and guided waterfront walk tours which you can learn more about here .
The Vessels at Hyde Street Pier
The Hyde Street Pier is dwelling to six turn-fo-the-century boats, ranging from an impressive rig sailing ship to
Balclutha, square-rigger (1886)
The beautiful 300 foundation Balclutha has three masts, with the tallest reaching 145 foot. This ship was used to transport goods around Cape Horn in South Africa 17 times.
C.A. Thayer, schooner (1895)
The CA Thayer is a great model of a embark normally used during the clock to transport lumber down the west coast. This embark ’ sulfur typical route was between a wood grind in Washington to San Francisco. however, this ship occasionally made longer journeys, including stops in Mexico, Hawaii and Fiji. This ship was late used for the salt-salmon and cod trade. Her concluding travel in 1950 made this transport the last commercial sweep vessel hush operating on the West Coast .
Eureka, steam ferryboat (1890)
This wooden-hulled, sidewheel paddle steamboat could transport 2300 people .
Alma, scow schooner (1891)
With its flat-bottomed hull, this scow schooner was built to transport goods over the shallow waters of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta
Hercules, steam tug (1907)
The Hercules is a steam-powered tug boat built of concentrate sword. It was built for ocean tow, and towed ships, barges, log rafts, and big structures used in the Pearl Harbor dock and the Panama Canal .
Eppleton Hall, paddlewheel tug (1941)
This steam-powered tug was built in England. It was made to tow coal-carrying ocean vessels on the River Tyne .
Things to do near the San Francisco Maritime Museum
This part of the Bay ’ second waterfront is heavily trafficked by tourists. You ’ ll find respective tourist hotspots within a abruptly walk distance, including Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman ’ s Wharf .
Check out Umbrella Alley in Fisherman ’ s Wharf for some newly murals highlighting some of the City ’ s most popular street artists, including @ fnnch ’ sulfur beloved bears, @ kate_tova ’ south bejewled hearts, and @ amillionair ’ second beautiful California wildflower bouquet.
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If you ’ re up for a swim and don ’ thyroxine thinker cold body of water, the Aquatic Park justly in front of the San Francisco Maritime Museum is release for open water swim .
