San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is a place to travel back to the 19th century. The park offers sounds, smells, sights, and stories of the Pacific Coast and its maritime history. The park is made up of some picnicking areas and trails. The main attraction at the San Francisco, California Park is the historical vessels.

There are seven ships in all located at the park. The first is an 1886 square rigger called the Balcutha. CA Thayer is an 1895 schooner, Eureka is an 1890 steam ferryboat, and the Alma is an 1891 scow schooner. Also at the park are the Hercules steam tug (1907), Eppleton Hall paddlewheel tug (1914), and the San Francisco Bay Ark (1890). The ark is actually a small houseboat used as a summer hideway for families going to Belvedere Lagoon.

The park also encompasses library collections, small crafts, the bathhouse building, and artifact corner. Artifact corner offers maritime objects on display such as sailor clothing, personal belongings, and ship objects like wheels, bells, and more. Operating hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm in June, July and August. Between September and May the park closes a half hour earlier. Tickets are needed for the historic vessels tours, which are $5 per person.