The ships in our park's collection have been moved temporarily due to the Hyde Street Rebuild Project. They are now located at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Visitors are not currently allowed on the ships, but can view them from Mare Island. When the Hyde Street Pier rebuild is finished, the ships will be moved back to Hyde Street Pier.
![]() NPS/J.Woerner A Ship Merging Industrial and Traditional Maritime TechnologiesBalclutha is a three-masted square-rigged ship designed for long distance cargo trading. The ship was built in 1886 at the Charles Connell & Co. Ltd. shipyard near Glasgow, Scotland. Balclutha represents industrial maritime innovation of the late 19th century due to the iron and steel used in its hull, in addition to its traditional wind-powered sail propulsion. As a general cargo vessel, Balclutha averaged no more than 30 crew members, who managed the complex rigging and dozens of sails required to keep the vessel under control. The ship made stops in San Francisco, California on several occasions, including its first three voyages. Balclutha completed navigation through the treacherous waters around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America 17 times, earning the informal title of a 'Cape Horner,' a nickname given to ships that rounded Cape Horn during that time period. Balclutha Quick Facts
![]() SAFR P80-133 Grain and Cargo (1887-1899)California experienced two distinct 'Gold Rushes.' The first (1848-1855) was driven by the allure of gold, and the second (1855-1910) was fueled by the rise of agriculture, particularly wheat farming across the fertile valley floors. Grain harvested from the fields was hauled in horse-drawn wagons to the Sacramento and San Joaquin River landings, where steam-powered sternwheelers and railroad boxcars carried the precious cargo to Port Costa. There, large ocean-going ships, bound for ports in Britain and Europe, were docked and ready to load. The state's booming grain industry transformed its economy, attracting British vessels by the hundreds each year, all passing through the Golden Gate into the San Francisco Bay. Lumber for Coal (1899-1902)In 1899, Balclutha was transferred to the Registry of Hawaii where it joined the bustling Pacific Coast lumber trade. For three years the ship sailed north to Puget Sound, Washington, and then across to Australia. Much of the 1.5 million board feet of lumber she could carry ended up underground where it was used for mining timbers in the Broken Hill Mine. Balclutha docked at Port Pirie, South Australia, where the timbers were unloaded and transported 250 miles inland to Broken Hill. ![]() SAFR P93-065, J07.00090 Salmon Packer (1902-1930)In 1904, when Balclutha ran aground, the Alaska Packers Association seized the opportunity to acquire it for a mere $500. After thorough repairs, the ship was rechristened Star of Alaska. ![]() SAFR P93-065, K06.40952 Movie Star (1933-1954)In 1933, Frank and Rose Kissinger acquired the Star of Alaska for $5,000, renaming it the Pacific Queen. The Kissingers brought the ship to Southern California, where it starred in the film Mutiny on the Bounty while anchored off Catalina Island. For a time, the Pacific Queen toured the West Coast as a "pirate ship," captivating crowds with its adventurous allure. Eventually, the ship was docked at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, where it was opened to the public and became a popular attraction. ![]() SAFR P93-065, B16.40834 Restoration and MuseumIn 1954 the San Francisco Maritime Museum, headed by Karl Kortum and Alma Spreckels, purchased Pacific Queen for $25,000. Assisted by donations of cash, materials and labor from the local community, the Museum restored the vessel and returned it to its original name and glory with the help of the granddaughter of Inda Frances Durkee, Inda Dunn. The ship was transferred to the National Park Service in 1978, and Balclutha was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985. Descriptive TranscriptA timelapse video of the ship Balclutha's tow away from Hyde Street Pier. The video starts early in the morning before sunrise with people working on the ship throughout the day, and ends when the ship is towed away.
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A timelapse video of the towing of Balclutha away from Hyde Street Pier, April 16, 2025. |
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Last updated: June 7, 2025