National Park Service Park News U.S. Department of the Interior The Official Newspaper of San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park The Maritime News April, May, June 2006 Museum Headed to Drydock Greetings! he Aquatic Park Bathhouse building, home to the park’s We look forward this spring to an Maritime Museum since 1951, will be “drydocked” this opening and a closing. year for much needed restoration. Before it closes, please T April 18, the 100th anniversary of the come down and experience this one-of-a-kind building, the 1930s great San Francisco earthquake and fire, artworks created under the Federal Art Project, and the maritime is the opening day of the exhibit, exhibits. “W. A. Coulter: A Master’s Brush With the Sea.” The oil paintings and The Bathhouse building was built in 1939 as a joint project of the illustrations, done by Coulter between 1869 and 1936, depict some of the most City of San Francisco and the New Deal Works Progress Ad- significant moments in the city’s ministration, and is the focal point of the Aquatic Park National maritime history. The exhibit is located in Historic Landmark District. This unique structure was designed the Visitor Center and runs through the in the Streamline Moderne style, a late offshoot of the Art Deco end of October. period that mimics the clean lines of an ocean liner. Later this year, the Aquatic Park Bath- house will undergo a major restoration. After occupation by troops in WWII from 1941 through 1948, the Although we are disappointed that our building became home to the San Francisco Maritime Museum Maritime Museum must close during and the country’s first Senior Center. The museum was operated Opening day of the Maritime Museum on May 28, 1951. Photo: the work, we are elated to preserve this by the San Francisco Maritime Association until it was trans- Frank Ricci. Photos top right: Relief over the main door by artist nationally significant historic and archi- Sargent Johnson and detail of the interior mural by artist Hilarie tectural resource. For project updates, ferred to the National Park Service in 1978. Hiler. Photos: NPS. please call our Visitor Center information desk (415-447-5000). Construction will take approximately three years, during which time her “upper hull and decks” (windows and roof) will be deformation, broken glass and water leaks. The waterproof We are also offering our annual Docent replaced, and her “hold” (the poured concrete bleachers and membrane on the roofs has deteriorated over time, causing Training class this spring. If learning more about maritime history, and volunteering significant roof leaks. The reinforcing steel within the con- underground spaces) will be renewed and reinforced. The exist- to work with the public appeals to you, ing elevator will also be extended upward one more “deck” to crete amphitheater structures is corroding due to moisture please check it out. There is more infor- improve public access to, and enjoyment of, this architectural saturation. Poorly designed original skylights have resulted mation about the work-of-art. in significant water damage to underground work spaces. class on page three. During the restoration project, the NPS will replace 90% of Although the Museum will close, the activities of the San Fran- Kate Richardson cisco Senior Center will continue throughout the construction. the windows and doors, and all of the roofs in the bathhouse Superintendent building with new materials that match the historic originals. The work is needed because 67 years of driving winter rains The concrete amphitheater structures will be repaired and the and salt-laden summer fogs have taken their toll. Stainless Steel skylights replaced with modern copies that replicate the look clad windows and doors are rusting from within, causing metal of the historic ones. 1 Major 2 Earthquake 4 Pigs at Sea! Museum to Drydock …1 Restoration Centennial Activity Page Superintendent’s Message…1 for Museum Events in the for Kids Visitor Information…2 Earthquake Centennial Events…2 Building Park Pigs at Sea!!?? What’s going on? Turn to page four and find out. Events and Programs…3 Major restoration later this year will Events include a special living history reverse 67 years of driving winter reenactment, a fine art exhibit, a Kids Activity Page…4 rains and salt-laden summer fogs. lecture and book signing, and a new Park Map…4 slide program. Today In the Park…4 ...................................................................... ...................................................................... ....................................................................... National Park Service 1906 Earthquake Centennial Events at the Park U.S. Department of the Interior San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park commemorates APRIL 15: Living History Players present “Hyde Street Pier: Escap- the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 with a special living ing the Flames.” Travel back 100 years and mingle with citizens and history reenactment, a fine art exhibit, a lecture and book signing by soldiers as they gather at the end of Hyde Street Pier for evacuation. bestselling author Dennis Smith, and a new slide program. Board the ferryboat Eureka and talk to refugees waiting to flee to the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park safety of the East Bay. On Hyde Street Pier, 11AM-4PM, vessel admis- sion. Established in 1988, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park APRIL 18-22 (daily): Maritime Heroics in the 1906 Earthquake and encompasses only 34 acres, but contains Fire. When San Francisco burned following the earthquake, many the most national historic landmarks of more would have died if not for the efforts of the sailors who helped any unit in the National Park Service. evacuate the city. Join a ranger for this captivating tale. In the Visitor In addition to the fleet of ships at Hyde Center, 2PM, free. Street Pier, the park includes the Aquatic APRIL 18: Exhibit opens - “W.A.Coulter: A Master’s Brush With the Park Historic District (Maritime Museum, Sea,” features his 10-foot-long earthquake painting, “San Francisco urban beach, picnic area and bocce ball Fire, 1906” (detail shown at left). His art captured some of the courts), a Visitor Center and a research most significant moments in San Francisco’s maritime history, and library (in Fort Mason Center). his illustrations regularly appeared in the pages of the historic San Superintendent Francisco Call newspaper. Visitor Center, 9:30AM-5PM, April 18-Oct Kate Richardson 31, free. APRIL 19: “San Francisco Is Burning” author, Dennis Smith, pres- Chief of Interpretation ents an illustrated lecture on the 1906 earthquake and fire. Maritime Marc Hayman Copyright 2006, Coulter Estate Museum, 6:30PM. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Please call 415-561-6662 ext. 32. Public Affairs Officer Lynn Cullivan Editor Christine Baird Docent Gordon Mailing Address Building E, Fort Mason Center Amrein San Francisco, CA 94123 Gordon has been an active member of the Fax Number park’s docent program for over fourteen 415-556-1624 years. Park Information In April of 1991, I was program chair- 415-447-5000 man of the Santa Rosa Sailing Club, and Contributors to Volume 12: I invited three staff members of the San Lynn Cullivan, Leslie Graham, Amy Hosa, Francisco Maritime National Park As- Robbyn Jackson and Mark Neuweld. sociation to speak to our club members about the museum and Hyde Street Pier. Maritime News April, May, June 2006 Their presentation was great, and they left Volume No.12 us literature about the park and how to volunteer. This was about seven months Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. before my retirement, and my interest in adult education, history, ships and sail- ing seemed to be a good combination for becoming a docent at San Francisco Mari- On Hyde Street Pier, Docent Gordon Amrein explains to visitors how a Hicks engine works. Sign Aboard time National Historical Park. The engine is in working order and Gordon operates it during his docent shift. Photo: NPS. I joined the next docent training class in Sonoma County Museum’s school and at the Park February of 1992. The members of our community outreach programs and am a class (and there are a few left at the park) weekly docent volunteer for the Corps of Free Docent started our docent careers in April, 1992. Engineers at Lake Sonoma. Association I opted for a schedule in which I volunteer Training every other Sunday for six to seven hours. I believe a docent is most valuable when You can show your support for the Park This is longer than the average docent the interpretation allows the visitor to through membership in the Maritime shift, because I wanted to maximize the feel a kinship to the past through mental Class Park Association, our non-profit partner time I would have at the park. I have con- images relating to the artifact’s time and organization. Your membership assists tinued this schedule to the present. place in history. To me, there is personal with preservation and education projects enjoyment when visitors “light up” with Offered for Park ships and collections. Member- One of my favorite experiences was giv- understanding, ask questions that further ship comes with special benefits at each ing a two hour tour of the pier and ships the discussions, and walk away with new To learn more about becoming a docent, level, including the Sea Letter magazine, to “Santa Rosa Day Trippers” a few years understanding of our San Francisco mari- and helping others explore maritime free park admission, and Maritime Store ago. During the tour, we had catered sack time heritage. history, please turn to page three under discounts. For more information, call lunches aboard the Eureka while I told the Volunteers heading for class details. Member Services at 415-561-6662 x 13, or stories about commuting on the bay.