Junior Ranger Day - April 28, 2007 - Centerpiece of National Park Week

Date: March 25, 2007
Contact: John Cunnane, 415-561-7123

National Park Week, April 22-29, 2007, an annual nationwide event, celebrates the magnificent natural and cultural history preserved in national parks by promoting active learning, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship. Maritime history comes splendidly to life at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park where all are invited to explore the Hyde Street Pier, historic ships, Visitor Center, and research library during this exciting week.

Mark your calendars for Junior Ranger Day, Saturday, April 28! Join us for a special day of activities for families. Raise a sail, pump the ship dry, turn a capstan, and sing songs of the sea! Some activities are free! Complete the Junior Ranger activity booklet while you are here and earn an authentic San Francisco Maritime Junior Ranger badge. If you already are a Junior Ranger from any national park, come on down and wear your badge!

Adults and kids, deepen your understanding of maritime heritage throughout the week with a variety of fascinating educational programs. Ship admission $5.00 for adults. Free everyday for accompanied children under 16. The following programs at Hyde Street Pier are included with ship admission:

Balclutha Tour – Daily, 2:15pm, aboard ship at Hyde Street Pier
Feel the terror of a Cape Horn passage on daily tours of the park’s majestic 1886 sailing ship.

Eureka Ferryboat Engine Room Tour – Sunday, April 22, 2:00pm, aboard ship at Hyde Street Pier
Hercules Tugboat Engineering Tour – Sunday, April 22, 3:00pm, aboard ship at Hyde Street Pier
Steam buffs can experience up close the engine rooms aboard the Hercules and Eureka and find out what makes a steam engine run.

Cruise of the Shenandoah – Saturday, April 28, 1:00pm, Visitor Center, free, Hyde and Jefferson Streets
Join a park ranger as he traces the 27,000 mile 1864-65 cruise of the CSS Shenandoah in the Pacific Ocean, and learn of her impact on the San Francisco based Pacific whaling fleet.

Debra Cowan Concert – Saturday, April 28, 2:00pm, aboard Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier
Explore maritime history through song with one of America’s foremost folksingers from Massachusetts.

Caulking a Seam – Sunday, April 29, noon, aboard Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier
Watertight seams are essential on wooden sailing ships. Join a park ranger to learn the steps involved in caulking a deck seam.

The Ocean: Barrier or Highway? – Sunday, April 29, 3pm, aboard Balclutha at Hyde Street Pier
Was the ocean a barrier or a highway for the vessels Balclutha, Thayer and Hercules? Join a park ranger to examine this question.

Get involved! Sign up for a free, three-day training course, April 15, 22 and 29, and join the park’s volunteer docent program. Learn the stories preserved by the park’s collection of authentic 19th century vessels, and chart a new course for yourself as a guide and steward of this unique "floating national park." Reservation required. Contact Terry Dorman, Volunteer Coordinator, at 415-556-1613 or e-mail us.

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, Visitor Center, and research library. The park offers both regular programs and special events. For more information about the park, or its public programs, please call 415-447-5000 or visit the park’s website at https://www.nps.gov/safr.

Images are available at https://www.nps.gov/safr/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm(Note: the Maritime Museum at 900 Beach Street is closed for renovation. It will reopen in 2009.)