5 hidden gems on San Francisco’s historic Hyde Street Pier

San Francisco’s Hyde Street Pier is perhaps best known for its century-old ships and incredible views. But since the pandemic restrictions ended, the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park — which includes the historic pier, vintage wooden vessels and the World War II-era USS Pampanito, a maritime museum and the Aquatic Park beach and cove — has fully reopened and is hoping to provide something new for its 4 million visitors a year.

“It’s about bringing people together, uplifting their spirits and giving them the community people have been itching for,” said Dale Dualan, the park’s public information officer.

Yes, we’re talking sea chanteys.

Everyone knows about the historic sailing ship Balclutha, but don’t miss these hidden delights while you’re there:

1. The Farallon lens, a 19th-century lighthouse

Any trip to this national park site should start at the visitors center across the street from the Hyde Street Pier entrance. Open on Fridays and weekends, it offers a free museum experience loaded with interactive exhibits and maritime artifacts.

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Turn left upon entering, and you’ll bump into the top half of what was once the Farallon Island lighthouse. The Fresnel lens was constructed in Paris in 1855 and arrived in San Francisco aboard a French ship. With beams that could be seen as far as 26 miles out to sea, the lens took about eight minutes to rotate around a lamp, as it steered ships away from the rocky shores in the Gulf of the Farallones. It was replaced in 1961 and now rests in the visitors center.

2. The Eureka

Upon entering Hyde Street Pier — which is free for children 15 and under and $15 for adults — visitors often flock to the Balclutha, a stunning 19th-century trade ship that looks like it could’ve been driven by Captain Jack Sparrow himself. But just across the pier sits another 19th-century vessel that once revolutionized local transportation: the Eureka.

Before you could drive across the Golden Gate Bridge on Highway101, the Eureka steam ferry boat was your best ticket to Marin. Built to carry 10 railroad freight cars and 500 passengers, it was upgraded after World War I to accommodate 20 automobiles and 2,300 passengers.

Today, the Eureka is considered the largest wooden structure still floating on an American waterfront. While it no longer offers guided tours, this massive structure is nearly 300 feet in length and remains a marvel to observe.

3. Tales from the shipwrights

Lead shipwright Charter Kays has worked on Hyde Street Pier for more than 30 years and still finds the most enjoyable part of his job is interacting with visitors. Like most of the shipwrights and park rangers on the pier, Kays is eager to bring curious visitors into often-unexplored parts of the ancient ships and share exclusive looks into his work on the waterfront.

As you walk down the pier toward the vessels, be sure to poke your head into the work station on the right. You’ll often find shipwrights working on upgrades and repairs to the boats, and they’re happy to give folks a peek at their work and answer questions.

4. The Mermaid

Don’t miss this unassuming, 19-foot plywood sailboat that now rests in the Maritime Museum. Japanese sailor Kenichi Horie threw caution to the wind when he sailed it on the first-ever solo trans-Pacific voyage in 1962.

Without a passport or money, Horie and the Mermaid snuck away from the shores of Osaka under cover of darkness to avoid authorities, then embarked on a grueling 94-day journey covering 5,300 miles before arriving in San Francisco.

The museum, which is free to enter, hosted Horie last year, when he returned to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his voyage.