Aquatic Park and Maritime Museum: Difference between revisions

(fixed navigation for new page)
No edit summary
(9 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 9: Line 9:


''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
[[Image:Black-Point-train-and-tunnel-1918-National-Maritime-Museum-image.jpg]]
'''Black Point train and tunnel, 1918, when the military would send goods to Fort Mason for shipment to military bases in the Pacific, including Hawaii and the [[SAN FRANCISCO'S ROLE IN THE WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES|Philippines (a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1946)]].'''
''Photo: National Maritime Museum''




Line 17: Line 23:
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''


[[Image:B-black-point-beginning-of-pioneer-woolen-mill I0012453A.jpg|800px]]
'''Black Point at the beginning of the Pioneer Woolen Mill.'''
''Photo: Online Archive of California I0012453A''


[[Image:Pioneer Woolen Mills 1860 AAC-7307.jpg]]
[[Image:Pioneer Woolen Mills 1860 AAC-7307.jpg]]
Line 24: Line 35:
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''
''Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library''


In 1867 the Pioneer Woolen Mill dominated the landscape near the area we call today Aquatic Park. In 1895 the Dolphin Club moved to the area. It was founded by Germans but by the end of the century the Irish and Italians had become members. The San Francisco Bay had been a dumping ground as the city expanded towards the bay. Much of today’s shoreline properties are composed of fill/debris from the many fires, earthquakes, and other catastrophes.
In 1867 the [[Ghirardelli Square|Pioneer Woolen Mill]] dominated the landscape near the area we call today Aquatic Park. In 1895 the Dolphin Club moved to the area. It was founded by Germans but by the end of the century the Irish and Italians had become members. The San Francisco Bay had been a dumping ground as the city expanded towards the bay. Much of today’s shoreline properties are composed of fill/debris from the many fires, earthquakes, and other catastrophes.
 
[[Image:Euphemia-at-Black-Point-1855.jpg]]


[[Image:norbeach$north-beach-1856.jpg]]
'''Black Point in middle distance, with hills of Marin County in distance, at right. The beached ship  is visible on the shore of Black Point, where it served as an insane asylum.'''


'''c. 1856 view of North Beach from near Telegraph Hill, the prison ship [[The Prison Ship 'Euphemia'|Euphemia]] is visible, docked along the far edge of the cove.'''
''Photo: Bancroft Library via the [http://www.oac.cdlib.org/ark:/28722/bk0000x947f/?brand=oac4 Online Archive of California]''


''Photo: Greg Gaar Collection, San Francisco, CA''
[[Image:B-Black-Point.-Selby-Smelter.-Larkin-and-Polk-Streets.-Ca.-1865 I0012594A.jpg|800px]]
 
'''Black Point with Selby smelter at Larkin and Polk Streets, c. 1865.'''
 
''Photo: Online Archive of California I0012494A'''
 
[[Image:Bayshore-and-Fort-Point-Road-gate-1864-Lawrence-and-Houseworthjpg.jpg]]
 
'''Bayshore and Fort Point Road gate, 1864, curving around Black Point (later Fort Mason)'''
 
''Photo: Lawrence and Houseworth''


[[Image:Aquatic-park-1997.jpg]]
[[Image:Aquatic-park-1997.jpg]]
Line 72: Line 95:


''Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, P88-035.148p''
''Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, P88-035.148p''
[[Image:Ghirardelli-Fontana-Maritime-Museum 20180322 172018.jpg]]
'''Ghirardelli Square and the Maritime Museum adjacent to the lawn of Maritime National Park.'''
''Photo: Chris Carlsson''
[[Image:Natl-Maritime-Park-Beach-and-Jones 20180322 172301.jpg]]
'''San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park sign at corner of Beach and Jones Streets.'''
''Photo: Chris Carlsson''






[[Julius' Castle |Prev. Document]]  [[Where Topless Dancing Began |Next Document]]
[[Northeast Waterfront 19th Century |Prev. Document]]  [[Where Topless Dancing Began |Next Document]]


[[category:North Beach]] [[category:Fisherman's Wharf]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:Famous characters]]
[[category:North Beach]] [[category:Fisherman's Wharf]] [[category:1850s]] [[category:1860s]] [[category:1990s]] [[category:1930s]] [[category:Famous characters]] [[category:1910s]] [[category:public Art]] [[category:1950s]] [[category:2010s]]

Revision as of 23:05, 9 September 2020

Historical Essay

by Dick Boyd


Maritime-museum-and-beach-2011-0289.jpg

Maritime Museum, low white building that looks like a ship, seen here across the Aquatic Park beach in May 2011.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Black-Point-train-and-tunnel-1918-National-Maritime-Museum-image.jpg

Black Point train and tunnel, 1918, when the military would send goods to Fort Mason for shipment to military bases in the Pacific, including Hawaii and the Philippines (a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1946).

Photo: National Maritime Museum


Pioneer Woolen Mills nd w Blackpoint AAC-7309.jpg

Pioneer Woolen Mills with Black Point behind, n.d.

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

B-black-point-beginning-of-pioneer-woolen-mill I0012453A.jpg

Black Point at the beginning of the Pioneer Woolen Mill.

Photo: Online Archive of California I0012453A

Pioneer Woolen Mills 1860 AAC-7307.jpg

Pioneer Woolen Mills, 1860 (Black Point in foreground)

Photo: San Francisco History Center, SF Public Library

In 1867 the Pioneer Woolen Mill dominated the landscape near the area we call today Aquatic Park. In 1895 the Dolphin Club moved to the area. It was founded by Germans but by the end of the century the Irish and Italians had become members. The San Francisco Bay had been a dumping ground as the city expanded towards the bay. Much of today’s shoreline properties are composed of fill/debris from the many fires, earthquakes, and other catastrophes.

Euphemia-at-Black-Point-1855.jpg

Black Point in middle distance, with hills of Marin County in distance, at right. The beached ship is visible on the shore of Black Point, where it served as an insane asylum.

Photo: Bancroft Library via the Online Archive of California

B-Black-Point.-Selby-Smelter.-Larkin-and-Polk-Streets.-Ca.-1865 I0012594A.jpg

Black Point with Selby smelter at Larkin and Polk Streets, c. 1865.

Photo: Online Archive of California I0012494A'

Bayshore-and-Fort-Point-Road-gate-1864-Lawrence-and-Houseworthjpg.jpg

Bayshore and Fort Point Road gate, 1864, curving around Black Point (later Fort Mason)

Photo: Lawrence and Houseworth

Aquatic-park-1997.jpg

Similar view, 1997

Photo: Chris Carlsson

What we know as Aquatic Park was called Black Point Cove back in those days. Whether the dumping had anything to with that name I don’t know but the waters became so murky most wouldn’t swim in it. Many efforts were made to have the area declared a park so the dumping would stop but all efforts failed. Ironically it took the ’30s depression and the WPA Federal Arts Project to get the area protected and the Art Deco-style Maritime Museum built. Many of the same people who were involved with the WPA Federal Art Projects citywide did the art at the museum.

Aquatic-Park-WPA-photos-1.jpg

May 18, 1938, painting interior murals at the Aquatic Park building.

Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Park, P88-035.147p


Aquatic-Park-WPA-photos-3.jpg

March 2, 1938, working on mosaic floors in Aquatic Park building.

Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Park, P88-035.117p


Marime-Museum-Floor-Turtle---Good.jpg

Maritime Museum turtle mosaic on floor.

Photo: Dick Boyd


Hilaire Hiler was the main mural designer but also had a part in designing the many fixtures. His designs sought to enhance the murals. He was a man of many talents and lived and worked in Europe as an artist and jazz musician. He finally had to leave Europe as anti-Semitism was raising its ugly head. In 1934 he arrived in San Francisco and began his work. The nautical shape of the building allowed him to best use his expressionist ideas and so the theme for the murals was “Mu and Atlantis.” Many real and mythical fish and organisms are seen swimming in a greenish sea. He was assisted by San Francisco artist Sargent “Claude” Johnson.

Johnson was a man of mixed heritage who had lived and worked in Washington DC. His father was White and his mother was Black/Cherokee. He could have passed for White or Native American as some of his kin did. He chose to live his life as a black man. He had come to San Francisco during the 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition and stayed. From 1926 to 1935 he was world-renowned for his Black subject matter. He resided here until his death in 1967 and lived and worked for a number of years in the 1500 block of Grant Avenue. He favored black portraits, masks and mother child images. Coincidentally I lived in that same block at the same time and remember seeing some of the displays in his shop windows. Was I smart enough to buy any? Of course not.

If you are a city native or long time resident you may have seen some of Johnson’s work at George Washington High School, the Beach Chalet or Coit Tower.

Aquatic-Park-WPA-photos-2.jpg

Aquatic Park mural painting, May 18, 1938.

Photo: San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, P88-035.148p

Ghirardelli-Fontana-Maritime-Museum 20180322 172018.jpg

Ghirardelli Square and the Maritime Museum adjacent to the lawn of Maritime National Park.

Photo: Chris Carlsson

Natl-Maritime-Park-Beach-and-Jones 20180322 172301.jpg

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park sign at corner of Beach and Jones Streets.

Photo: Chris Carlsson


Prev. Document Next Document