(Digital image by NPS) June 1, 1850Alpheus B. Thompson writes to his mother Lydia, "You may think it strange that you do not hear from me oftener, but the fact is that since Steam has brought us so near together that it has actually been the cause of our further separation; before the Steam Ships commenced Running we had frequent opportunities by Sailing Vessels, but now all Sailing Vessels go direct to San Francisco and there the most part of them remain, the Officers & Crews go to the Mines and the Steam Ships touch only at the two extreme Ports in California, San Diego and San Francisco, and I am located half way or in the Center...but in a short time Steam Ships or Boats will visit all Ports in California when you may not be surprised if I pay you and my Brothers & Sisters an Evening Visit." -- China trade days in California / edited by D. Mackenzie Brown. - University of California Press, 1947, p. 53.
June 1, 1878John Masefield, the poet who wrote the lines, "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, / And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by" in his poem "Sea Fever," is born in Ledbury, England. "Sea Fever," much collected, was published in his Salt-Water Poems and Ballads.
(NPS photo) June 3, 1888U.S. Signal Service Bureau changed the time when the time ball was hoisted to the top of its pole from 11:50 to 11:55 so as to "relieve people's eyes and necks from too long a strain in watching."
(NPS photo) June 4, 1849On June 4-5, 1849, H.W. Chittenden, enroute to San Francisco on board the bark Croton, writes of crossing the equator and draws the stars in the Southern Cross. Read more about his sea journal held by the Park in collection SAFR 14299 via the links to blog posts under "Croton" on our Sailing Ships and SF Maritime Collections page.
June 6, 1868Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott is born. 
(NPS photo) June 11, 1869The clipper ship Sovereign of the Seas arrives in San Francisco 142 days out of New York with a carrying the Central Pacific locomotive Gray Fox (CP 150).
(NPS photo) June 13, 1991California State Senate issues a commemorative certificate to the National Maritime Museum proclaiming "Scow Schooner Alma Day" in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Alma's launching.
June 15, 1922Max Stern buys his way out of his Chinese cannery contract for $14.80 cash and the forfeiture of two months pay equalling $68. His experiences are detailed in his newspaper series, The Price of Salmon.
(NPS photo) June 16, 1945Marinship sets record by constructing and delivering the tanker SS Huntington Hills in 33 days--28 on the ways and 5 fitting out and completing trials.
(Digital image by NPS) June 18, 1888Robert Louis Stevenson moves on board the yacht Casco.
(Digital image by NPS) June 22, 1884USS Bear and USS Thetis reach survivors of the Greeley expedition to the Arctic.
(NPS photo) June 26, 1897Captain Thomas Yardley Powles of the British Ship James Kerr was awarded the "Jubilee Mercantile Marine Regatta" chalice for participating in the greatest number of races. The Regatta was held in honor of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
(Digital image by NPS) June 27, 1988Public Law 100-348, "The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Act of 1988," establishes San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
NPS photo June 28, 1958The Gracie S. is photographed on San Francisco Bay with her lee rail under. |
Last updated: August 1, 2018