A Waterfront Time Capsule of Tall Ships, Tugboats, and Old-School SF

If you love history you can actually walk onto (and you’re into salty bay breezes), this is your spot.

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is where San Francisco’s working-waterfront past comes to life—think historic ships, a classic maritime museum, and the postcard-perfect curve of Aquatic Park. It’s an easy add-on when you’re exploring Fisherman’s Wharf, and it’s especially fun on a private tour where your guide can flex the route, time stops around crowds, and build in photo stops whenever the views pop off.

And because your ride is always a private group, you can linger where you want (hello, ship decks and skyline angles) and pivot fast if conditions change on the waterfront.

Quick Overview: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

• What it is: A waterfront historic park featuring Hyde Street Pier, historic ships, a maritime museum, and the Aquatic Park Historic District.
• Where it is: In Fisherman’s Wharf, right on San Francisco Bay.
• What you’ll see: Tall ships, a steam ferryboat, tugboats, maritime exhibits, and classic bay views.
• Heads-up: Hyde Street Pier and access to historic ships has been closed to the public starting 11/04/2024 for renovation work (see alert below).
• Best for: History lovers, families, photographers, and anyone who wants a “real SF” waterfront moment.
• Photo vibes: Aquatic Park’s curve, ship masts against the skyline, and golden-hour glow across the Bay.
• Time needed: Flexible—quick look for the scenery, or longer if you’re diving into exhibits and ships (when accessible).
• Pro move: Pair it with nearby waterfront highlights on a private tour so your route stays smooth and totally customizable.

Explore This Page: Quick Overview | History | Fun Facts | In Popular Media & Events | Why Visit / What You’ll Do | Highlights / Don’t Miss | Why a Private Tuk Tuk Tour Works Here | Plan Your Visit | FAQ | Related Guides | Nearby Points of Interest

History of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park was created to preserve the city’s deep nautical roots—from the ships that powered Pacific Coast trade to the waterfront spaces that shaped daily life on the Bay. The park includes multiple historic elements: Hyde Street Pier (home to a fleet of historic ships, some dating back to the 19th century), the Maritime Museum inside the Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (with dramatic maritime-themed murals from the 1930s), and the Maritime Research Center, packed with nautical artifacts and archives.

Hyde Street Pier also has a practical origin story: it once served as a major ferry terminal for cars and passengers crossing the Bay—before bridges changed the region’s transportation forever. Today, it’s a window into SF’s working waterfront, with restored vessels and exhibits that bring that era back into focus.

• Preservation mission: The park was established to protect San Francisco’s maritime heritage through ships, museums, and archives.
• Working waterfront past: Hyde Street Pier originally served as a ferry terminal for cross-Bay travel.
• 1930s artistry: The Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building features maritime-themed murals from the 1930s.
• Research powerhouse: The Maritime Research Center houses nautical artifacts, photographs, and historical records.

Fun Facts About San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

• The Balclutha is one of the few surviving square-riggers from the late 19th century.
• The Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (now the Maritime Museum) is a prime example of Streamline Moderne architecture, designed to resemble an ocean liner.
• The Eppleton Hall, a British-built tugboat, crossed the Atlantic and Panama Canal to reach San Francisco in 1970.
• The Maritime Research Center houses one of the largest nautical history archives on the West Coast.
• Before major bridges connected the Bay Area, ferries like the Eureka were essential for transportation across San Francisco Bay.

In Popular Media & Events

Featured in Films & Literature

The historic ships and waterfront backdrop of the Maritime Park have been featured in movies, documentaries, and books celebrating San Francisco’s maritime history. The Balclutha has appeared in period films due to its authentic 19th-century design.

Annual Events & Activities

• Festival of the Sea: A maritime celebration featuring ship tours, live music, and seafaring demonstrations.
• Historic Sailing Days: Watch traditional ship-rigging demonstrations.
• Maritime Storytelling Nights: Listen to sea shanties and sailors’ tales from the Golden Age of Sail.

Why Visit / What You’ll Do

On a classic day, this area is pure San Francisco: the Bay breeze, the curve of Aquatic Park, and a front-row seat to the city’s seafaring past. You can explore exhibits at the Maritime Museum, soak up the Aquatic Park Historic District, and (when accessible) step aboard historic vessels that once hauled cargo, towed ships through rough water, or ferried people across the Bay.

Right now, the big story is preservation. The National Park Service is moving and rehabbing ships so they’ll be protected long-term—meaning access may change, but the mission is all about keeping these icons around for future visitors.

Moving the Historic Ships: Understanding the Hyde Street Pier Project

As the National Park Service embarks on a crucial project to preserve the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier, many visitors may wonder why these iconic vessels are being relocated and what the future holds for the pier. This initiative is essential for ensuring the long-term safety and preservation of the historic ships.

• The current Hyde Street Pier is more than 60 years old and is no longer structurally sound enough to safely support the historic ship fleet or the thousands of visitors who visit the pier each year. Due to safety concerns, some ships have already been moved, with three more scheduled to depart beginning no sooner than late March 2025.
• Mare Island, located in Vallejo, CA, offers the necessary facilities and expert contractors to work on the ships. It provides a safer environment for these fragile vessels compared to the rough waters and strong winds of San Francisco’s waterfront. In August 2023, the NPS secured a long-term lease for riverfront property and ship berthing bulkheads at Mare Island, where there is ample space and resources to house and maintain the historic ships.
• The replacement of Hyde Street Pier is a long-term project expected to take several years. At this time, no demolition or construction contracts have been awarded, and planning is still in progress. As a result, the timeline for the ships’ return remains uncertain.
• The Eureka will undergo the most extensive rehabilitation, including hull work, deck repairs, and updates to its electrical and safety systems. The C.A. Thayer and Hercules will receive routine maintenance and restoration work, which will be completed after their move to Mare Island. The Balclutha and Eppleton Hall are expected to need only minor work after being towed to Mare Island this fall.
• Yes, the historic ships will be accessible to visitors at Mare Island. However, the timing and level of access will depend on the condition of the ships and staffing availability. The Balclutha and Eppleton Hall are expected to be in place by late March 2025, followed by the C.A. Thayer and Hercules.

Historic Ships at Hyde Street Pier: Must-See Vessels

1. Balclutha (1886) – A High Seas Cargo Ship

• A steel-hulled, three-masted square-rigger, Balclutha was built in Glasgow, Scotland.
• This ship carried cargo worldwide and rounded Cape Horn 17 times.
• It required a 26-member crew to navigate its 25 massive sails.

2. C.A. Thayer (1895) – A Lumber Schooner

• This wooden-hulled, three-masted schooner was designed for carrying timber along the West Coast.
• Built in Northern California at the Hans D. Bendixsen Shipyard, the Thayer is a survivor of a once-thriving lumber trade.
• Its small crew included just four seamen, two mates, a cook, and the captain.

3. Eureka (1890) – A Steam Ferryboat

• Originally designed to carry passengers, horses, and later automobiles across San Francisco Bay.
• At 300 feet long, Eureka was one of the largest wooden ferries ever built.

4. Alma (1891) – A Scow Schooner

• A flat-bottomed cargo ship, the Alma was vital to San Francisco’s early shipping industry, delivering goods to the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

5. Hercules (1907) – A Steam Tugboat

• Built for ocean towing, Hercules played a crucial role in guiding ships safely through the Golden Gate Strait.

6. Eppleton Hall (1914) – A Paddlewheel Tugboat

• This British-built vessel made a historic transatlantic voyage from England to San Francisco in the 1970s.

7. San Francisco Bay Ark (1890s) – A Floating Home

• These floating homes, or houseboats, were once a common sight in the San Francisco Bay area.

Highlights / Don’t Miss

• Aquatic Park views: That curved waterfront amphitheater look with the city rising behind it—classic, cinematic San Francisco.
• The Maritime Museum (Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building): A landmark building with maritime-themed murals and serious vintage SF vibes.
• Ship-spotting moments: Even when access changes, the ship fleet and waterfront setting still deliver big “SF harbor” energy.
• The legends of the fleet: Names like Balclutha and Eureka are basically celebrity ships around here (for history nerds—in the best way).
• Photo stops you’ll actually keep: Masts, Bay light, skyline angles, and that salty fog drama when it rolls in.
• Preservation in action: The Hyde Street Pier project is a behind-the-scenes look at how SF protects its icons for the long haul.

Why a Private Tuk Tuk Tour Works Here

• It’s always a private group: No mixing with strangers—your crew, your pace, your vibe.
• Flexible, custom routing: Waterfront conditions change fast; a private tour lets you pivot, detour, or double back when the views are best.
• Photo stops built in: Want ship masts + skyline? Aquatic Park curve? You can stop when it’s actually gorgeous.
• Convenient for waterfront hopping: Fisherman’s Wharf is packed—tuk tuks make it easy to connect nearby landmarks without the stress.
• A guide makes it click: The ships aren’t just “old boats”—a local guide brings the stories (and the drama) to life.

If you want to weave Maritime Park into a bigger day of sightseeing, a Lucky Tuk Tuk Private Small Group Tour makes it easy to keep things smooth, scenic, and totally tailored.

Plan Your Visit

• Location: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA
• Address: 499 Jefferson Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
• Hours: Open year-round; ship access and tour schedules can change—check the official website for current details.
• Best time to visit: Go earlier for fewer crowds, or later for that dreamy Bay light—especially if you’re aiming for photos.
• Logistics note: The waterfront can be busy; public transit and ride shares can be easier than parking, especially on weekends.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park FAQ

Related Guides (Worth a Click)

• Cable Cars — The classic ride that drops you close to the Wharf (and the turntable action is oddly mesmerizing).
• PIER 39 and Sea Lions — Shops, snacks, sea lions, and family-friendly fun right nearby.
• North Beach / Little Italy — Espresso, focaccia, and a great “walk it off” neighborhood after the waterfront.

Nearby Points of Interest

• Cable Cars:
  open to the public since 1873, this fascinating mode of transportation conveys visitors from Market Street to Beach Street, where Fisherman’s Wharf is less than a ten-minute walk away. Be sure to watch operators move the cable car on a turntable to point it in the right direction for the return trip to Market Street!
• Alcatraz Island:
  this island prison is now a famous tourist attraction, but in its heyday, it housed the era’s most infamous prisoners. Inmates could hear laughter carried across the water from the city, and many attempted the one-mile swim to land. Visit today for a tour!
• Pier 39:
  Famous for its sunbathing sea lions, shopping, and seafood, PIER 39 houses a delightful collection of specialty shops and tourist attractions that will delight the entire family. Eat at the Hard Rock Café, ride the vintage hand-painted carousel, or watch a live magic show with the kids. Don’t forget to visit the Welcome Center for your free coupon booklet!
• Coit Tower and Telegraph Hill:
  don’t miss the panorama from the 210-foot high tower, which offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, the Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.
• North Beach / Little Italy:
  Little Italy offers a variety of bars, comedy clubs, and authentic Italian restaurants. Try some focaccia bread, or take a walk in the relaxing green space of Washington Square.
• Umbrella Alley:
  Mural-filled alley with perfect backdrops for Instagram and Tik Tok. Family friendly.