San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park - Aquatic Park Bathhouse Building (Maritime Museum) (U.S. National Park Service)

NPS

The Aquatic Park Bathhouse building.

The Bathhouse building was built in 1939 as a joint project of the City of San Francisco and the New Deal Works Progress Administration (WPA), and is the focal point of the Aquatic Park Historic Landmark District. This unique structure was designed in the Streamline Moderne style, a late offshoot of the Art Deco period, and mimics the clean lines of an ocean liner.

A section of the mural showing brighly-colored and strange-looking sea creatures and a staircase.

NPS

A section of the mural that covers the walls of the Maritime Museum lobby.

The building is a showcase for art created during the 1930s by Sargent Johnson and Hilaire Hiler. Dazzling murals cover the interior walls.

Large group of people gathered in front of the Bathhouse building.

Frank Ricci
SAFR A12.24,911.13n

Opening day of the Maritime Museum on May 28, 1951.

After occupation by troops in WWII from 1941 through 1948, the building became home to the San Francisco Maritime Museum and the country’s first Senior Center. The museum was operated by the San Francisco Maritime Association until it was transferred to the National Park Service in 1978.

The Bathhouse lobby and veranda are open daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The WPA-era murals in the lobby have been restored. Please stop by to enjoy the vibrant colors depicting a dreamy and strange underwater world. For more information, please call the Visitor Center, 415-447-5000.

NPS

The Bathhouse building and a section of the east bleachers.

Aquatic Park Bathhouse site bulletin

You are exiting the National Park Service website

Thank you for visiting our site.