San Francisco Maritime Parks, Argonaut Hotel Maritime History

Argonaut Hotel, Maritime Parks + SF Bay Maritime History Relevant Links:

Argonaut Hotel and Maritime Mueseum located in San Francisco's most popular destination, Fishermans Wharf, the historic waterfront hotel (named for the Gold Rushers who sought their fortune here) offers guests an inviting atmosphere, personal services and amenities, and the experience of a luxury San Francisco boutique hotel.
Explorers throughout history have set sail for the vibrant, bustling port city of San Francisco. Today's adventurers looking to experience the essence of San Francisco and its rich maritime history check into the four star accommodations of the Argonaut Hotel at Fisherman's Wharf.

In a unique partnership with the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Argonaut Hotel makes its home in the historic Haslett Warehouse at The Cannery. The Argonaut hotel overlooks San Francisco Bay and this national park, including its fleet of historic ships. Their 252 spacious guestrooms feature unobstructed breathtaking views of Fisherman's Wharf, the San Francisco Bay and the city skyline. Guests at this Fisherman's Wharf hotel can savor the history and soul of San Francisco. While the Argonaut Hotel's original 1907 style architecture still embodies elements of the nautical history of San Francisco in its heyday, its plush, stylish décor nestles guests in an accommodating, stimulating environment that is both modern and comforting.

In the same building as the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco, guests, locals and tourists alike will find the Maritime National Historical Park and Visitors Center. In partnership with the National Park Service, the Argonaut Hotel set aside over 9,000 square feet for this museum, dedicated to West Coast maritime history and the story of Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.
(information from the argonaut.com website)
495 Jefferson Street at Hyde
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA 94109
866-415-0704 tf · 415-563-0800
argonauthotel.com

SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME PARK WEB CAM VIEW
Earth Cam San Francisco www.earthcam.com - EarthCam and the South End Rowing Club bring you a breathtaking view of San Francisco bay from the heart of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. From this vantage point you can see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
www.south-end.org (South End Rowing Club)

SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME MUSEUM
San Francisco Maritime museum - A Historic National Park

Inside this ship-shaped, streamline-moderne structure, built as a WPA-project, mast sections, jutting spars and ships figureheads are arranged among the colorful fish and gleaming tiles of muralist Hilaire Hiler's expressionist vision of Atlantis. Displays include panels, video, oral history re-creations, models and interactive exhibits. The Steamship Room illustrates the technological evolution of wind-to-steam power. The Mermaid, the one-man sailboat that transported a solo adventurer across the Pacific from Japan in 94 days, is displayed on the balcony, along with a statue by San Francisco sculptor Beniamino Bufano. The current third floor exhibit is " Sparks, Waves and Wizards: Communications at Sea." Second floor displays include three photomurals of early the early San Francisco waterfront, lithographic stones, scrimshaw and whaling guns.
The Museum is one many Park areas offering alternative use. For details visit the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association's Facility Rental information page. Or contact the Special Events Associate at (415)561-6662 ext. 18.
Open daily, year-round, 10am-5pm all year. Admission the Museum is free. A limited number of accessible parking spaces are located at the entrance to the Museum Building. The first floor of the Maritime Museum is accessible (there is a photo album at the front desk which shows the exhibits on the second floor).
SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME MUSEUM www.nps.gov/safr/local/mus.html

SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

San Francisco Historic Vessels

1886 square-rigger Balclutha - www.nps.gov
1895 schooner C.A. Thayer
1890 steam ferryboat Eureka
1891 scow schooner Alma
1907 steam tug Hercules
1914 paddlewheel tug Eppleton Hall
SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHRIMP JUNK PROJECT
http://www.nps.gov/safr/junk.html
Last Fall, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Associate Curator John Muir's crew of dedicated volunteers constructed a traditional Chinese Shrimp Junk boat, the Grace Quan, from the ground up. On Saturday, April 10, the crew raised a handmade sail on the boat's polished mast, and sailed the 40-foot vessel on her maiden voyage along San Francisco's waterfront.
USS PAMPANITO (SS-383)
World War II Balao class Fleet submarine museum
USS Pampanito (SS-383) is a World War II Balao class Fleet submarine museum and memorial that is open for visitors daily at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. Pampanito made six patrols in the Pacific during World War II during which she sank six Japanese ships and damaged four others. Operated by the Maritime Park Association, Pampanito hosts approximately 110,000 visitors a year and is one of the most popular historic vessels in the country. In addition to day time visitors, over 15,000 kids a year participate in Pampanito's educational day and overnight programs. Pampanito is a National Historic Landmark.
Historic Schooner the "Gaslight"
San Francisco Bay Adventures "GasLight"
Charter the Historic "GasLight" for weddings, angel island picnics, corporate events, birthdays, parties, or wine tastings. Contact www.sfbayadventures.com for charter information. 415.331.3804. San Francisco Yacht Charters, Boat Rentals + Maritime Services
Historic Naval Ships Association
www.hnsa.org/index.htm
Historic Naval Ships Association list for California
- USS Hornet, Alameda, California
  http://www.hnsa.org/ships/hornet.htm Aircraft Carrier Hornet Museum
  P.O. Box 460 ,Pier 3, Alameda Point ,Alameda, CA 94501
  (510) 521-8448
  Essex Aircraft Carrier
- USS Potomac, Oakland, California
  Potomac Association 540 Water Street ,P.O. Box 2064 ,Oakland, CA 94604-2064
  (510) 627-1215 (Monday - Friday)
  (510) 627-1502 (24 hour info line)
  www.usspotomac.org
- Lightship Relief, Oakland, California
- SS Red Oak Victory, Richmond, California
- USCGC Fir, Rio Vista, California
- PTF 26, Rio Vista, California
- USAT LT-1967, San Diego, California
- Steam Yacht Medea, San Diego, California
- USS Midway, San Diego, California
  SS Jeremiah O'Brien, San Francisco, California
- USS Pampanito, San Francisco, California
- SS Lane Victory, San Pedro, California
- PBR Mark II, Vallejo, California

SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME HISTORY, LIBRARY AND DOCUMENTS
San Francisco Maritime History Library and Document Resourses

San Francisco Maritime National Park Association
www.maritime.org/index.htm
For more than 50 years, San Francisco Maritime National Park Association has worked to bring maritime history to life for visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area. When the Association was founded in 1950 as the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association, its primary mission was the operation of a museum in the landmark art deco building in Aquatic Park at the foot of Polk Street. In 1954 the Association acquired the tall ship Balclutha, renovated it and opened it for public tours, thereby expanding the concept of what the maritime museum might become. The Association has played an integral role over the past four decades in the development of Victorian Park and Hyde Street Pier as historical sites. Initially a part of the California State Park system and later a unit of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the area became a distinct National Historical Park in 1989.
J. Porter Shaw Library Maritime Library http://www.nps.gov/safr/local/lib/libtop.html The Pacific Coast's preeminent library of commercial maritime history Established in 1959, the J. Porter Shaw Library is part of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, and focuses on sail and steam on the West Coast and in the Pacific Basin from 1520 to the present. The library continually strives to improve its holdings, catalogs acquisitions, and provides reference service for the Library and Historic Documents Department materials.
http://www.nps.gov/safr/local/safrhdd.html The Historic Documents Department manages the Museum's collection of textual records, architectural drawings, photographs, and motion pictures. This collection, one of the finest on the West Coast, documents maritime trades, technology, traditions, and lifeways from the Gold Rush through the post-World War II era. The Department is responsible for the acquisition, preservation, processing, cataloging, and access of the Park's archival collections.
The museumsmall Craft Association is a group of professionals and amateurs involved in the study and preservation of traditional small craft. http://www.maritime.org/msca/index.htm The museum members represent a diversity of professions, including museum professionals, historians, archaeologists, and academics. All members share a common interest in boat conservation and restoration, skills preservation, boat documentation, small craft history and interpretation, and academic research. This group has published the well respected Manual of Documentation for small craft and a comprehensive list of small craft in North America.

San Francisco Bay Ferries + Maritime Transportation

Blue and Gold Fleet
Blue & Gold Fleet is the Bay Area's largest provider of ferry and water excursion services. Blue & Gold Fleet is the exclusive provider of tours to Alcatraz under concession to the National Park Service. Additionally, we offer a range of cruises including spectacular Bay Cruises, ferries to Sausalito, Tiburon, Alameda/Oakland, Vallejo and Angel Island, as well as tours to the Wine Country, San Francisco City Tour, Monterey/Carmel, Muir Woods, Yosemite National Park and Six Flags Marine World®. Blue & Gold Fleet also charters vessels for private and business events and offers transportation to Pacific Bell Park during baseball season.

The Blue and Gold Fleet PIER 41 Marine Terminal, San Francisco, CA, 94133
(415) 705.8200 Administrative Offices
(415) 705.5555 Tickets
(415) 705.5429 Facsimile
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/
Red and White Fleet
Experience the highlights of beautiful San Francisco Bay through a variety of exciting tours on land and at sea, offered by the Red and White Fleet ® San Francisco's original sightseeing tradition since 1892.
Pier 43-1/2
San Francisco, CA 94133
General Information:415-673-2900
Reservations: 415-901-5254
FAX: 415-447-2794
http://www.redandwhite.com/
Golden Gate Ferry / Ferries
General Information 415-921-5858
http://goldengateferry.org/

SF BAY NAUTICAL AND MARITIME RESOURCES: