Walking into the exhibit, one becomes the "San Carlos", first ship entering San Francisco Bay in 1776. The mural depicts the Yelamu indians greeting the Europeans. Voices of native American indians can be heard in the background.
The mural was painted by Park staff - Amy Hosa and Mark Seely.
The Paladini family still in business today, was one of the original fishmongers along the waterfront. The local catch and fishing methods are explained with an interactive display.
A historic photograph of the actual storefront was mounted for the background.
The cart is an artifact, the ice acrylic and the fish are fiberglass reproductions.
The Cincotta family operated a ship chandlery on Jefferson Street.
Telegraph Hill area has the "Time Ball". You're familiar with the New Year's Eve dropping of the ball...every port had a time ball installed within eye's sight. Usually atop a tall building. Everyday at high noon, the ball would drop. Ship's captains would set their chronometer to this action. But one had to buy a schedule of the "Corrected Time", the ball was not always lowered at noon.
The theater in the Telegraph Hill zone. Sensors activate the five minute program.
Starting at the far right, this structure represents the Customs House that was in San Francisco, 1830. In the corner, a miners tent made from sail cloth, 1849. The wooden structure represents a miner's shack, more permanent housing. The rust colored building on the far left is a pre-fab building one could buy from China in 1850. Out sourcing is not a new concept.
This is the "DIg Zone". The curator wanted to recreate an archeological dig site. During the excavation phase of construction, numerous ships and artifacts have been uncovered. The artifacts displayed are from the museum's collections.
Various artifacts line the "Dig Zone". Anchors, chains and a section of a ship that was unearthed from a former "bone yard".
Artifacts recovered from abandoned ships that littered the Bay. It's hard to imagine, hundreds of ships were abandoned in the Bay.
The Miner's shack was an improvement over tents made from sails . Gold rush artifacts are displayed in this case.
Boicelli & Boss, a machine shop that was located on the wharf, manufactured gas engines. When sails fell out of favor, one could find a machine shop along the wharf to refit your boat. Artifacts from local machine shops are displayed here. The sounds of an engine running can be heard at the touch of a button.
The structure on the right depicts a pre-fab building one could buy from China in 1850. Out sourcing is not a new concept. The element on the left represents a building that was burned by one of the many fires that plagued the City.
Photography and the birth of a city coincides...but due to the many fires, Shew built his daguerrotype studio in a wagon to avoid the flames. We put his name on this storefront anyway. Reproductions fill the window.
Built this camera and tripod from historic photographs. I installed a digital frame to the backside of the atifake. Historic images from studio session are displayed.
An exhibit of San Francisco has to have a saloon. The bar is an artifact case. The wall cases are filled with sailor's fancy work.
Top view of the bar
It was determined that a traditional trunk would not provide enough space to exhibit the specified artifacts. Two larger trunks were designed and fabricated to exhibit the artifacts from the Pacific Mail and Steam Ship Company and the companion piece, artifacts from the ceremony when "One goes over the line" (equator).
Artifacts from "Over the line" ceremony.
Representation of the "Alma". One of the historic ships in the museum's collection.
The "Alma" is docked at the Hyde Street Pier and is operates sailing tours in the summer.
The importance of the whaling industry in old San Francisco
Artifacts and artifakes from the historic Union Iron Works, San Francisco.
Presido shoreline
An authentic tule canoe fabricated by Linda Yamane, a scholar in American Indian culture, was a consultant for the project,
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"Walk Along The Waterfront" , SF Maritime NHP
This exhibit will take the visitor, back in time, to reveal the rich maritime history San Francisco shares with the world.
Hundreds of artifacts from the museum's collection department have been selected for display, many for the first time since accession.
The audio program streaming in the background, produced by John Cavallo & Associates, enhances the experience, changing as one walks through the exhibit.
Unique narratives describe what life was like "back in the day".
The visitor starts at Fort Presidio, 1776, when the first Europeans entered San Francisco Bay. Stroll along Fisherman's Wharf and Telegraph Hill. See a "dig site", a saloon, historic film footage of the old ferry system.
This is a fantastic venue for history buffs.
And most importantly...admission is free !