Buried Ships of San Francisco

Richard Everett

San Francisco Historical Association
 

Every day, thousands of us walk above and over the buried hulls of ships, old wharves, and cargo. Muni streetcars below the street pass right through the oaken hull of a 19th-century ship. Nearly a thousand ships came from all over the world to San Francisco in the early years of the Gold Rush. Almost fifty of them burned to the waterline in the 1851 fire; others used as warehouses were surrounded by wharves that were constantly being extended. Everything was subsequently buried as the sandy hills were leveled to push the shoreline out to deeper water.

These ships started to be found in the early 1920s, but it wasn't until the 1970s that archaeologists and the San Francisco Maritime Museum began researching and documenting them as they were encountered by construction projects. Richard was in the unique position to collect photos and research for many of the digs as well as work with their archaeologists. He will present the best photographs, drawings, and stories about these ships and what was buried with them. A map of Yerba Buena Cove, developed by museum staff and archaeologists, will be available for purchase.

Richard Everett is the former Curator of Exhibits at the Maritime Museum, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. His largest exhibit, "The Waterfront -- Sailors Called It Frisco," is located at San Francisco Maritime’s Visitor Center at the foot of Hyde Street.

Doors open at 7 p.m. with refreshments and a historical book sale; presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. sharp. There is a $10 admission for nonmembers.