The Maritime Archaeology of the Rise of the Port of San Francisco
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GOLD RUSH ENTREPGT: THE MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE RISE OF THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO James Preston Delgado B.A.History, San Francisco State University, 1981 M.A. Maritime History and Underwater Research, East Carolina University, 1985 DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY In the Department of Archaeology O James P. Delgado 2006 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2006 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL NAME: James Preston Delgado DEGREE: TITLE OF THESIS: Gold Rush Entrepot: The Maritime Archaeology of the Rise of the Port of San Francisco EXAMINING COMMITTEE: Chair: Dr. George Nicholas, Associate Professor Dr. David Burley, Professor Senior Supervisor Dr. Ross Jamieson, Assistant Professor Dr. Margaret Purser, Professor, Archaeology Sonoma State University, California Dr. Warren Gill, Professor, Geography Internal Examiner Dr. Mark Staniforth, Associate Professor Archaeology, Hinders University, Adelaide, Australia External Examiner Date Approved: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY~ibra ry DECLARATION OF PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENCE The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. 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The original application for approval and letter of approval are filed with the relevant offices. Inquiries may be directed to those authorities. Bennett Library Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada ABSTRACT The California Gold Rush of 1848-1 852 transformed San Francisco into a major city. This rapid rise, often attributed by historians to the accident of the gold discovery, is more a result of centuries-long processes of integration of the Pacific into the European world system. Integration of the Pacific occurred through maritime exploration, trade and commerce. By the mid-nineteenth century, California and its gold was another commodity in the longue duree of Pacific integration. Ships responding to the gold discovery brought mass-produced industrialized goods as well as commodities to support the growing city and its surrounding region. The role of shipping underscores how San Francisco's rise reflects the role of entrepbts, or zones of free exchange, as a model for integration, and as a new way of assessing a "frontier". San Francisco is not only an American settlement on the Pacific Coast of North America, but also a globally-linked port on the edge of the Pacific Rim. This dissertation assesses the rise of San Francisco and the role of a maritime system as an agent of the world system through historical archaeological examination of the buried Gold Rush waterfront of the city. A 9-square block area, partially burned and covered by landfill, includes well-preserved sites including partly burned fallen buildings and buried ships filled with cargo. These demonstrate how the rapidly constructed Gold Rush waterfront of moored ships, piers and buildings are macro-artifacts reflecting economic, social and political agendas in Gold Rush San Francisco. The waterfront provided the means for an ostensible mining settlement to survive the pattern of "boom or bust", and to become a critical entrep6t for United States interests in and ultimate command of Pacific and Asian trade. Analysis of these sites through a study of archival evidence, recovered artifacts and buried features interprets the maritime cultural landscape of the Gold Rush waterfront. While the Pacific by 1850 falls beyond the range of Wallerstein's original thesis for a World System, San Francisco's rapid rise is part of a frontier process linked to a "maritime system" that in itself can be incorporated within world systems theory. Keywords: California gold rush, Maritime archaeology, world system, ships and shipping. DEDICATION This is dedicated to my family, especially my wife, Ann, who inspired, guided, and gently nudged when needed. It is also dedicated to the memory of my mentor Dr. Theodore C. Hinckley, who encouraged my parents to send me to University. Ted passed away before the culmination of his belief in my academic future came to fruition. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There is a long list of supporters and colleagues who have supported my Gold Rush research, both in the field and in the archives. First is Dr. Allen G. Pastron, who provided access to Hoff s Store, General Harrison, and a number of other Gold Rush ships and sites. Rhonda K. Robichaud worked diligently with the collections and in front of microfilm readers to help bring Genrral Harrison back to life. Richard Everett, of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park convinced Allen to pick up that phone and invite me to the General Harrison dig. A truer friend would be impossible to find. The Archeo-Tec field crew worked long and difficult hours in trying circumstances on this project, including constantly wet and muddy conditions and working in the midst of a busy industrial construction site with tight deadlines. I thank the field and laboratory crew: Dale Beevers, Matt Calder, Patrick Cave, Jamie Wadell, Andrew Gottsfield, Jonathan Goodrich, Michelle Collins, Anne Olney, Jason Claiburne, Eros Hoagland, Rebecca Sue Johnson, Paul Landgraver, Kasey Hovenkamp, Rebecca Percey, Nora Yolles, Bill Percey, Julie Kirkenslager, Richard Stradtford, Tom Hirashima, Emily Wick, Yosuf Nashir, Dave Nichols and Alison Vanderslice. Harlan Soeten, the retired curator of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, introduced me to the buried Gold Rush ships, as did the late Karl Kortum, the museum's founder, and Museum Librarian David Hull. Another guide and mentor was the late John B. Goodman 1111, whose encyclopaedic compendium of the Gold Rush fleet that sailed to California in 1848-1 849 remains a landmark achievement in Gold Rush scholarship. Many a Gold Rush reference found its way to me through the diligence of Dr. Robert J. Chandler of the Wells Fargo Bank History Department. Carlos Lopez Urmtia, naval and maritime historian and expert on Chile's participation in the California Gold Rush, as well as a former Chilean consul, shared his knowledge and rare research materials from his library. The late Raymond Aker and William Avery Baker provided naval architectural advice and guidance, as did Curator Stephen Canright of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Site. Lines taking and documentation of the General Harrison's hull remains was supervised by John Muir of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Site and included a field team of Diane Cooper, Todd Bloch, Mike Jablonowski and Jason Rucker. Reconstruction drawings of General Harrison were prepared by John W. McKay. My research in Chile was assisted by Juan Carlos Zalaquett and Melissa Taylor. Gold Rush theory and frontier issues were eagerly shared and debated by Dr. Margaret Purser. Fruitful discussions of anthropological fieldwork, the uses of oral tradition, and general advice were provided by Dr. Jay V. Powell and Dr. Michael McCarthy. My father, Robert D. Delgado, retired Assistant Chief of the San Jose Fire Department was an invaluable resource in reconstructing the fire that burned General Harrison. Kim Y. McKeithan of the National Archives researched and copied General Harrison's registries and enrolments. Analysis of the General Harrison collection