How Do You Build and Sail a Pelican? the Latest Addition to the Hyde Street Pier Fleet Isn’T a 19Th Cen- Tury Square-Rigger Or a Ferryboat from the Roaring ’20S
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National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The Official Newspaper of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park The Maritime News March, April, May 2007 How Do You Build and Sail a Pelican? The latest addition to the Hyde Street Pier fleet isn’t a 19th Cen- tury square-rigger or a ferryboat from the Roaring ’20s. Although Partnerships considerably more modest than the park’s historic ships, the latest addition has a different kind of significance – it was built by hand in 16 days from November through January by a group of San As the Golden Gate opened America’s Francisco teenagers in the Maritime Education Center, a bayside West to trade and commerce, so San workshop near the foot of Van Ness Ave. Francisco Maritime National Historical Park ushers Americans into our rich The 16 students come from Downtown High School in San maritime heritage. Francisco’s Potrero Hill neighborhood. In the words of Elizabeth We are the stewards of the nation’s most Houston, one of the students, “There’s no art program at our spectacular collection of seafaring history: school, so this program helps us get that kind of experience. If six National Landmark vessels, a National you don’t like sitting around, this is a different situation than the Landmark District, a state-of-the-art classroom – it’s more hands-on.” visitor center, public library, and research facility. The Pelican-building class is an ongoing program. Photo, top left: Laying The boat is a San Francisco Pelican. Designed in the 1950s with We are actively forming partnerships with the keel on a Pelican built last spring. Photo, top right: The launching San Francisco Bay conditions in mind, the Pelican is a sturdy, foundations, governmental agencies, celebration of the recently-built Pelican with students from Downtown simple, 12-foot-long wooden sailing boat that is relatively easy to private businesses, cultural institutions, High School. Photo, above: The maiden voyage. The mast, sail, rudder, and educational organizations. The front build using basic carpentry skills. tiller, and custom paint job, will be added later. NPS Photos page article details one of those flourish- world and several hundred in the Bay Area. “The local fleet ing educational partnerships between Teacher Ed Cavanaugh described the class as “experiential edu- the park, San Francisco Maritime National cation” that provides basic carpentry and mathematics skills in a races once a month in different locations in Northern Cali- Park Association (our non-profit partner), team environment. Perhaps more important, it generates enthusi- fornia, and the Maritime Park Association sponsors pelican and the San Francisco Public Schools. asm. “You get them out here and put tools in their hands, and they races here every spring,” he explained. go ‘Oh, yeah!’” We are dedicated to leaving a legacy for This boat is only a temporary addition to the fleet. Unlike the the nation and the greater San Francisco community, and to furthering our other six Pelican boats built through this kind of class at the John Heid, a 30-year-old woodworker with a passion for boat- partnerships within the community. building, is the lead instructor. “We’re trying to teach these kids park in past years, Downtown High School will put this latest some basic life skills so they can go out and get a job,” John said, Pelican up for sale. Proceeds will help cover future Pelican adding that “It’s a platform for teaching them other things”, such boat class costs. as discipline, cleaning, being on time, and respect. A bonus for the A few Pelicans built by past classes can usually be seen in front Kate Richardson students is getting a taste of sailing. Superintendent of the Small Boat Shop or in the water around the Hyde Street Jason Rucker, the assistant curator of small craft at San Francisco Pier. Anyone interested in getting involved with this program Maritime National Historical Park and the founder of the pro- can contact Jason Rucker at 415-556-4031. gram, estimates that there are a few thousand Pelicans around the By Brian Cooke, Park Volunteer 1 How Do You 2 Docent 4 Baby On Sail a Pelican? Training Class Board: How Do You Sail a Pelican? …1 Superintendent’s Message…1 No, we’re not talking about the one Offered Activity Page Visitor Information…2 with wings and feathers; rather, a What is a docent? Sign up for this for Kids sturdy, wooden, 12-foot-long, sail Docent Training Class Offered…2 fun and interesting class and find boat. What was it like to grow up on a out. Share your love of maritime Events and Programs…3 history with park visitors from around sailing ship over 100 years ago? How the world. did kids get their sea legs, and did Kids Activity Page…4 they have to take baths? Park Map…4 ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ....................................................................... National Park Service If Ships Could Speak U.S. Department of the Interior San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park encompasses only 34 acres, but contains the most national historic landmarks of any unit in the National Park Service. In addition to the fleet of ships at Hyde Street Pier, the park includes the Aquatic Park National Historic Landmark District Junior (Bathhouse building, urban beach, lawn area and bocce ball courts), a Visitor Ranger Day Center and a research library (in Fort Mason Center). Saturday, April 28, 10AM-4PM. Superintendent On Hyde Street Pier, the historic Kate Richardson Park Docent Bruce Hood giving a tour of the sailing ship Balclutha. He is with visitors at the stern of the ships, and in the Visitor Center. vessel and demonstrating where a sailor would stand when at the helm. NPS Photo Chief of Interpretation Vessel admission (under 16 free). Marc Hayman An Introduction to pants will learn how to prepare a compelling interpretive program. Once trained, docents Join us for a special day for Junior Rangers Public Affairs Officer Interpretation at San will share their knowledge with park visitors and Junior Ranger Want-To-Bes! We’ll have Lynn Cullivan Francisco Maritime through formal educational programs and demonstrations and activities for kids of all informal contacts. ages. Help raise a sail, pump the ship dry, Editor National Historical Park and turn a capstan. At 2PM singer Debra Christine Baird The training is presented over three con- Are you interested in becoming a volunteer Cowen will perform songs of the sea on secutive Sundays: April 15, 22, and 29, from docent at the park? This three-day training Balclutha. Come and sing along...loudly! Mailing Address 10:30am to 4:30pm at the park. The course course will introduce participants to mari- Building E, Fort Mason Center includes an additional eight hours of on- time history, the park’s historic ships and Children ages 7–12 can earn a San Francisco San Francisco, CA 94123 the-job training to be scheduled in May. the art of presenting educational programs. Maritime Junior Ranger badge by complet- ing the activities in our Junior Ranger Fax Number There is no charge for the training but Learn the stories preserved by the park’s booklet. Get a head start by downloading 415-556-1624 reservations are required. To register, or for collection of authentic 19th century vessels, it from our website, www.nps.gov/safr and more information, contact Terry Dorman, and chart a new course as a steward of this clicking on the “For Kids” button on the left Park Information volunteer coordinator, at 415-556-1613 or unique “floating national park.” hand side. 415-447-5000 [email protected] Contributors to Volume 16: Brian Cooke, The course will include tours of the historic Come on down and enjoy a day of fun at Kathryn Daskal, Leslie Graham, David ships, park library, and collections. Partici- the pier! Hull, and Mark Neuweld. Maritime News March, April, May 2007 Volume No.16 Two Fleets at SF Maritime Maintenance employees now use electric-powered cars to keep the park shipshape; the gardener keeps the lawns trimmed with a mower that runs on 100% vegetable-based diesel fuel. Sign Aboard at the Park Association You can show your support for the park through membership in the Maritime Park Association, our non-profit partner Enjoy Your Public Lands organization. Your membership assists Use a new inter-agency recreational pass to visit the fascinating with preservation and education projects natural and cultural resources preserved in national parks, na- for park ships and collections. Member- tional forests, wildlife refuges, and other federal lands through- ship comes with special benefits at each out the country. ($80, good for one year from date of sale.) Or level, including the Sea Letter magazine, consider an annual pass exclusively for visitation to the mag- free park admission, and Maritime Store nificent ships at Hyde Street Pier. ($20, good for one year from discounts. For more information, call date of sale.) Passes can be purchased at San Francisco Maritime Member Services at 415-561-6662 x12, National Historical Park. Please inquire at the ticket booth on The new clean-burning fleet of park maintenance vehicles with the historic or go to www.maritime.org. Hyde Street Pier. fleet of ships at Hyde Street Pier in the background. NPS Photo ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Visitor Information Dates and Hours of Operation No-Fee Areas The Hyde Street Pier, located at Hyde and Jefferson Streets, is open 9:30AM – 5:00PM—last Visitor Center, Hyde Street Pier, Aquatic Park Historic District and the Maritime Library entry at 4:30PM (October 1 – May 27), and 9:30AM – 5:30PM—last entry at 5PM (Fort Mason Center).