Ferry EUREKA, Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco, San Francisco County, CA

See HAER CA-364 for documentation of the Eureka's Lifeboat No. 3.

Significance: EUREKA, considered to be the only extant vessel of its type in the United States, symbolizes an era of travel that has all but vanished from American waters. One of only two remaining "walking-beam" marine steam engines remaining in the US, EUREKA (UKIAH) plied the waters of San Francisco Bay servicing the San Francisco and Northern Pacific Railway. Carrying railroad cars and passengers, she continued in operation through 1920. In 1920 she was almost completely rebuilt, lengthened, and made ready for carrying automobiles and passengers under the name EUREKA until 1941. Now located at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, she is used to interpret the once common era of steam ferry transport, showcasing her walking-beam engine and a collection of antique automobiles. Built almost entirely of Douglas fir, she is the largest surviving wooden-hulled vessel in the United States.

EUREKA is one of two survivors from a once large fleet of steam ferries that served on San Francisco Bay and played a vital role in the regional economy. These ferries provided the connection between San Francisco and its transbay hinterland that made possible the growth of suburbs in Marin County, Contra Costa County, and the East Bay. Before highways and suspension bridges, the ferries were the main conduits for travelers within the region.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N278

Survey number: HAER CA-59

Building/structure dates: 1890 Initial Construction

Building/structure dates: 1920-1922 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1957 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1960-1963 Subsequent Work

Building/structure dates: 1977 Subsequent Work

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 73000229

ferries war world war i transportation war world war ii naval museums maritime walking beam engines stacks pilot houses paddle wheels decks watercraft components pistons pumps machinery shafts steering gear boilers condensers golden gate ferry eureka ferry eureka hyde pier hyde street pier san francisco san francisco county california national parks and reserves richard k anderson john bonner emil burgh justine christianson edward a creighton todd croteau john dickie andy disher william m doll kelly donahoe charles green historic american engineering record dana lockett john muir northern pacific railway marc porter william richardson george scott southern pacific railroad hans thomas patrick tierman union iron works david van pelt victor l verdellet photo ultra high resolution high resolution san francisco bay united states history water transport ferry ship library of congress national register of historic places

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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