Map of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Included in this park are a fleet of historic ships, a maritime  museum, and a maritime library. The fleet includes the 1886  square-rigger Bal-clutha; the 1895 schooner CA. Thayer; the 1891 scow  schooner Alma; the 1890 ferryboat Eureka; the 1914 paddlewheel tug  Eppleton Hall; and the 1907 steam tugboat Hercules. The Hercules and  Alma have been restored and steam (and sail) to ports around the bay.  The museum, in a streamline modern building, displays models, huge  ships' parts, figureheads, and fine arts, and includes the Steamship  Room, which presents the history of West Coast steam. The Maritime  Library houses books, periodicals, and oral histories, and provides  access to more than 250,000 photographs, 120,000 sheets of ships' plans,  and other historic documents. The park's extensive artifact collections  include oils and watercolors, scrimshaw, delicate fancywork, carvings,  tools, and navigational instruments. The park was established in 1988.     

WHAT TO SEE & DO     

Attending boatbuilding classes, doing library research,  picnicking, touring historic vessels, viewing exhibits, visiting museum.  Facilities: Visitor center, museum, library. Bookstore and gift shop.  Programs & Events: Steam-engine and living-history demonstrations,  boatbuilding and woodworking classes. Heritage month programs (Women's  History, Asian-Pacific, Black History, etc.); Festival of the Sea  (usually in Sept.), Sea Music Concert Series (fall), Christmas at Sea  (winter). Tips & Hints: Use public transportation to get to the  park. The best time to visit is in fall. Busiest July and Aug., least  crowded Dec. and Jan.     

FEES & HOURS     

Entrance fee: Hyde St. Pier (historic vessels): $5 adults, $2  ages 12-17 and 64 and over, free ages 11 and under. Museum and library  free. Visitor center open Memorial Day-Oct. 1, daily 9:30-7; Oct.  2-Memorial Day, daily 9:30-5. Hyde St. Pier open daily 9:30-3:30.  Maritime Museum open daily 10-5. Library open Tues. 5-7, Wed.-Fri. 1-5,  Sat. 10-5.     

HOW TO GET THERE     

West end of Fisherman's Wharf, at the Hyde Street cable-car terminus. Closest airport: San Francisco (15 mi).    

CONTACTS     

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (Bldg. E, Room  265, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA 94123, tel. 415/561-7000, fax  415/556-1624). San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (201 3rd  St., Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, tel. 415/ 974-6900).     

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. How to get by  car to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. How to book a  room and its price in the San Francisco Maritime National Historical  Park