• A section of the bowsprint and figurehead on the bow of BALCLUTHA.

    San Francisco Maritime

    National Historical Park California

Christmas At Sea and Old Time Maritime Christmas

Santa floating in a small boat in the Aquatic Park lagoon.

NPS

Santa even goes to sea!!!

Saturday, December 10, 2011, at Hyde Street Pier, San Francisco. Information: 415-447-5000

Bring the family down to Hyde Street Pier for an old fashioned holiday. Music, refreshments, ornament-making, and a visit from Santa (by boat) will be part of the fun from 3 pm to 4:45 pm.

From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park's costumed Living History players will present its annual Old Time Maritime Christmas, bringing maritime history to life in this unique holiday program. The program is free, and reservations are required. Information and reservations: 415-447-5000.

Turn the clock back to Christmas in the year 1901, where you will meet and talk with captains, wives, and crews aboard the historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier. Lamplit guided tours leave every 20 minutes from the entrance to Hyde Street Pier until 8:00pm. With the lights of San Francisco twinkling in the background, the historic ships and characters offer a memorable holiday experience.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is located at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf, in San Francisco. The park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, visitor center, Aquatic Park Historic District, and library. For more information about the park, or its public programs, please call 415-447-5000 or visit the park's website at http://www.nps.gov/safr.

Click here to read a story by Captain Fred K. Klebingat, "Christmas in the Fo'c'sle."

 
Adults and children sitting together in the captain's cabin on BALCLUTHA during a holiday program.
Adults and children sitting together in the captain's cabin on BALCLUTHA during the Old Time Maritime Christmas program.
Courtesy Living History Players
 
Living history players present Old Time Maritime Christmas.
Living history players present Old Time Maritime Christmas on Hyde Street Pier.
Living History Players

Did You Know?

A white marking painted on the port side of Balclutha with letters and lines.

This "Plimsoll Mark" is painted on the port side of Balclutha and named for Samuel Plimsoll, an Englishman who fought to pass the Merchant Shipping Act of 1876. Before this law, many ships were dangerously overloaded and many sank. These “coffin ships” claimed the lives of many sailors. More...