Maritime Research Center

 

A Treasure Trove of Nautical Knowledge

The Maritime Research Center of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is the premier resource for San Francisco and Pacific Coast maritime history and the portal into the Park's collections. Originating in 1939, the collections have become the largest maritime collection on the West Coast and the largest museum and research collection in the National Park Service. Our unique resources serve and inform historians, genealogists, artists, authors, students, filmmakers, sailors, boat and model builders, and performers from all over the world, as well as NPS staff. Our collections are developed through the support of our partners, donations, and library collection purchases. Reference staff are available by phone, email, fax or in person by appointment to assist you with your research in all of the Park's collections--with books, photographs, or even the objects cared for by collections staff.

 

Plan Your Research Visit

The Maritime Research Center is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Appointments must be made at least twenty-four hours in advance.

Contact the park's Reference Librarian to set up your research appointment by by email, by phone at [phone], by fax at [phone], or by mail at:

Reference Librarian
SF Maritime NHP Research Center
2 Marina Blvd., Bldg. E, 3rd floor
San Francisco, CA 94123
USA

Please refer to our Access Policy and Rules Governing Use for a full list of rules for the Research Center.

Directions

The Maritime Research Center is located on the third floor of Building E, in Fort Mason Center (2 Marina Blvd., also known as Lower Fort Mason), located near the intersection of Buchanan and Marina Blvd. (Entrance across from the Marina Safeway.) Building E is the easternmost warehouse building, near the Festival Pavilion and the Firehouse building. Or, to put it another way, the Research Center is located at 37° 48.4' N, 122° 25.8' W, as charted by volunteers Larry Kellogg and Doug Burrill.

 

View of the reading room in the Maritime Research Center showing researchers, NPS uniformed staff as well as visitors, at tables consulting archives, books, and audio materials, Reference Librarian Gina Bardi at the Reference Desk in the background.

NPS photo

Historical Archives

Immerse yourself in the rich maritime heritage preserved by the Maritime Research Center. Explore curated highlights categorized by subject, or uncover the unique connections between our collections and significant maritime events. Each collection provides a window into different facets of seafaring life, from historic voyages and engineering marvels to cultural and artistic expressions.

Discover the stories that shaped maritime history and find hidden treasures that connect the past with the present. Whether you’re a historian, student, artist, or enthusiast, our collections offer an unparalleled journey into the world of maritime exploration.

Explore the Largest Maritime Collection on the West Coast

The Maritime Research Center proudly preserves and offers access to the most extensive maritime collection on the West Coast. Our holdings include:

• 35,000 published titles, encompassing more than 74,000 individual items

• 500,000 photographs, capturing maritime moments and history

• 1,800 archival and manuscript collections, chronicling maritime narratives

• 150,000 naval architecture and marine engineering drawings

• 3,000 maps and charts, providing insight into historic and contemporary navigation

• 150,000 feet of motion picture film and video, documenting maritime life and events

• 6,000 historical archaeology artifacts, revealing past maritime cultures

• 2,500 pieces of folk and fine art, showcasing the artistic side of seafaring heritage

• 40,000 history objects, significant to maritime stories

• 100 small craft, each with unique histories

• 50,000 pieces of ephemera, capturing maritime experiences and memorabilia

• 600 oral histories and audio recordings, preserving personal stories and firsthand accounts

Archival Collections:

The Archival Collections concern the history and achievements of seafaring Americans primarily of the Pacific Coast of North America covering the span of history from the California Gold Rush era to the recent past. They include paper records (such as manuscripts, naval architecture and marine engineering drawings), photographs, film and video, and audio records on tape and digital media. The major subjects encompassed in the archives are oceanic and coastal trade, the San Francisco Bay and river systems, marine harvesting, marine business, labor and shore-based support activities.

Library Collections:

The Library Collections contain over 35,000 books and periodical titles dating from 1536 to the present, 50,000 pieces of ephemera, and over 3000 maps and charts covering the Pacific Basin and the West Coast of the United States dating from 1650 to the present. Audio and video materials are also available in multiple formats.

Explore our Library and Archive Collections through the Keys Catalogue, an online database of the items in our collection.

Museum Objects

Our Object Collections range from large vessel parts to fine art and everyday artifacts of life at sea. The park's object collections contain over 48,000 items that represent the lives of the men and women who built and sailed vessels along the Pacific Coast of North America. Among these items are artifacts dating back to San Francisco's gold rush days, as well as more recent items from the twentieth century.

Our collection includes fine art, tools and equipment used in maritime endeavors, the personal effects of sailors and passengers, and parts of historic vessels, ranging in size from macro-artifacts such as large parts of ships to small items such as those in the Reardon Collection of Scrimshaw and Carvings. The objects in our collection serve as tangible links to maritime history, blending the iconic with the practical.

Photo Galleries

See our rich collection of visual media:

• Historic images

• Photographs of items from our extensive collections

• Park images that capture the essence of maritime heritage

Small Craft Collection:

The Park's Small Craft Collections consist of traditional and significant vessels that provide a fine introduction to boatbuilding and maritime trades.

 

Museum Collections Highlights

The Maritime Research Center at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park holds a diverse array of collections that illuminate various aspects of maritime history and culture. Our curated collections offer a unique window into the multifaceted stories of seafaring communities and their lasting legacies. Search by subject to explore the captivating narratives and artifacts that shape maritime history:

Featured Collection Subjects:

• America's Cup and yacht racing

• Animals

• Arts, crafts, skills, and artists, artisans, and craft workers

• Boats and small craft

• Companies and organizations (naval architectural and engineering firms, engine manufacturers, shipping lines, shipyards, boatyards, etc.)

• Geneaology resources at SF Maritime

• Kenichi Horie's sailing alone across the Pacific

• Language and literature

• Life aboard ship (crew or passenger, at work or at play, including preparing to go to sea, shipping out, etc.)

• Steam

• Sailing ships

• Time

• Women

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Who may use the collections? Where can I use them?

The Maritime Research Center is open to park staff and all members of the public. Archival collections (photos, original documents, etc.) are available to park staff and researchers for use in the Research Center with valid photo identification by appointment only. Walk-in requests for archival collections access will not be honored. Access to the park's museum artifact and small craft collection is currently unavailable as we move these collections to a new facility. Please contact the Reference Librarian to make an appointment, and refer to our Access Policy and Rules Governing Use for a full list of rules for the Research Center.

Where is the Maritime Research Center located?

The Maritime Research Center is located on the third floor of Building E, in Fort Mason Center (2 Marina Blvd., also known as Lower Fort Mason), located near the intersection of Buchanan and Marina Blvd. (Entrance across from the Marina Safeway.) Building E is the easternmost warehouse building, near the Festival Pavilion and the Firehouse building.

What are the Maritime Research Center hours?

The Maritime Research Center is open by appointment only, Monday through Friday. Appointments must be made at least twenty-four hours in advance. Contact the Reference Librarian to make an appointment.

How can I look up a publication in the catalog?

Published items (books, periodicals, etc.) are listed in the Park's Keys Catalog; see Collections Catalogs & Finding Aids for more information.

How do I find archival and object collections?

See Collections Catalogs & Finding Aids for links to the archival, object, and library publications catalogs. For more information on finding photographs, please contact our Research Center.

May I browse or retrieve materials myself?

Only the public reference materials in the Research Center are available for self-service. The collections stacks are closed to everyone except authorized staff. Paging of materials is handled by the park's Maritime Research Center staff. Some materials are located in offsite storage, and paging times vary.

Can I check out materials from the Maritime Research Center?

Full borrowing privileges are extended to NPS staff only. Limited privileges are extended to volunteers, interns, and Park Association staff. Most Stack materials can be borrowed through interlibrary loan service, for in-library use in your local library. Rare library materials, archival materials, and audio-visual collections are not available through interlibrary loan, and must be used in the Maritime Research Center.

Is help available to researchers?

Reference assistance about the collections with limited research is available. Staff are unable to undertake lengthy research investigations. Contact the reference librarian for assistance requests.

What should I expect when using the Maritime Research Center?

Please refer to our Access Policy and Rules Governing Use for a full list of rules for the Maritime Research Center.

Are there restrictions on what sort of items I can bring into the Maritime Research Center?

Yes. Please refer to our Access Policy and Rules Governing Use for a full list of rules for the Maritime Research Center. Lockers are available for storage of personal property.

Does the Maritime Research Center provide computer facilities?

Researchers may bring personal laptops, tablets, and silent smart phones into the reading room. The Maritime Research Center does not provide computers for word processing or other software applications. Computer workstations in the Maritime Research Center are for collections catalog access and research only. Wifi is available.

How can I get copies of materials?

Requests for reproductions from library and archival collections may be available, depending on the item's condition. Please refer to the Park's Duplication Services for information on reproductions and pricing. Reproductions are provided on a cost recovery charge-back basis in accordance with 43 U.S. Code 1460 and National Park Service (NPS) policy. Fees recovered from the delivery of reproductions are used to support the use and preservation of the park's collections. All copies are produced by Park staff only. Payment is accepted with a credit card or checking account via our Pay.gov site, and must be received in advance before an order can be processed.

How do I get permission to publish an image from the collection?

Please see our Notice of Intent to Publish or Use form.

Do you have ship's passenger lists, or information on life on the ships?

We have some passenger lists. If you know the name of the ship, and the date of the voyage, you can contact us to see if we have any resources on those passengers. The majority of passenger lists for arrivals on the West Coast are at other institutions. See our Genealogy Research page for more information. We also have material describing life on board ships. Contact us for recommendations of first-person accounts of sailors' seafaring lives, immigrant's experiences, and works on typical conditions aboard ships.

My relative was a sailor. Can you help me find information about them?

If you contact us with the name of the ship on which they served, we may be able to locate resources such as a picture of the vessel; we have some information on crews as well. We also have a fairly large collection of cruise books, the "year book" or "memory book" of a crew's voyage. See Genealogy Research at SF Maritime NHP for more information on our resources and those in other collections.

My relative worked in a shipyard. Can you help me find information on them?

We hold extensive collections relating to West Coast shipyards. More information is available on our Genealogy research at SF Maritime NHP page or by contacting us.

Can I volunteer at the Maritime Research Center? Do you have internships?

Contact us to learn more about volunteer, intership and/or practicum opportunities in the Collections Dept., or read more about the Park's Volunteer Program for information on other opportunities in the park.

How can I donate library material to the Park's Maritime Research Center?

Please contact us for information concerning donations of library materials (e.g., books and periodicals).

How can I donate material to the archives or museum collection?

The park collects and preserves materials in all formats that document the maritime heritage of the Pacific Coast. Please see our information on donating archives or objects to our collections. Want to learn more about donating archives in general? See the Society of American Archivists' Donating Your Personal or Family Papers to a Repository.