The California Historical Society
Collections of historical documents and manuscripts including fine arts, phoitogrpahs, texts, maps and several special collections found nowhere else in the country.
678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
The J. Porter Shaw San Francisco Maritime Library
The San Francisco Maritime Library at Fort Mason has an extensive collection of reference materials for maritime researchers. It is filled with photos, historical papers, books on California maritime history, photographs and additional information on the ships listed at this site. Well worth a visit.
National Historical Maritime Park
Houses an impressive collection of large-scale model ships to the larger-than-life figureheads that once crowned the bows of Gold Rush-era clippers, and Gold-Rush era photographs. The Museum features special exhibits and discussions relating to the Gold Rush. The Maritime Historical National Park, which is adjacent to the Museum, has a large collection of historical vessels. Some are open to the public and the Pampanito is available to scout troops for overnight adventures. Beach Street at the Foot of Polk, just two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf, across from Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, San Francisco.
National Archives and Records Administration, Pacific Region (San Francisco)
Contains nationwide holdings relating to family history/genealogy research and veterans' service records, reproductions, NARA Archival Information Locator (NAIL) database, Government documents and library materials, and more. Their Northern California office is at:
NARA - Pacific Region (San Francisco)Holdings include records from Federal agencies and courts in northern California, Hawaii, Nevada (except Clark County), the Pacific Trust Territories, and American Samoa. Call 650-876-9009 for information. They also have ships logs from about 1880 onward.
Archival Operations Staff (NRHA-S)
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066-2350
(Approximately 12 miles south of San Francisco)
San Francisco Public Library, Main Branch
The Main Branch at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco holds microfiche of newspapers published in early San Francsico — invaluable to any researcher. The information therein is not catalogued. Their collections include an African America Center, Chinese Center, Filipino American Center, San Francisco History Center (invaluable reference works), San Francisco Photo Collection.
The Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum has ongoing displays of early California artifacts, including a model gold assayer's office, a fire engine and a classic carriage. The museum also features displays of the State's indigenous cultures and flora and fauna. General information: 510 238 2200.
Maritime History Archive
A Guide to Maritime History on the Internet
The Maritime History Virtual Archives
A gentlemen named Lars Bruzelius has put up the most impressive site of: Biblioteca Nautica, Bibliographies and Antiquarian Bookshops; Etymology, including Dictionaries; Biographies; Societies; Conferences & Lectures; Maritime and Naval Museums; Ship models; Shipbuilding and Naval Architecture - Mainly wooden shipbuilding; Masting and Rigging; Seamanship; Ships - Mainly sailing ships from the second half of the 19th century; The Duties of Officers and Men; Maritime History, including Shipwrecks and other Disasters at Sea; Naval History; images of ships and ship models; Health of Seamen, with a couple of quotations on scurvy.
Schoonerman
A site for lovers of all tall ships. Schoonerman has details and photographs of schooners, brigs, brigantines, barks and fully rigged tall ships. If you love the history of the sea or the feel of the wind, don't miss this site.
Convictions: Australian shipping 1788-1968
This site contains shipping and passenger information for Australia and, to a lesser extent, New Zealand. As well as arrival and departure details, where possible, background information is also provided. The site contains over 51,000 shipping movements and more than 70,000 passenger entries, with the shipping information starting at 1788 and going through to 1968.
San Francisco History Museum
This small museum is packed with memorabilia and photographs from San Francisco through the years. Rotating exhibits feature the rise of the City of San Francisco from its origins as a Spanish garrison, to its renown as a Gold-Rush boom town, to world attention as a the famous "Earthquake City." Admission is free. The Museum's Annals of San Francisco is a superb web site featuring San Francisco through the years. Well organized, excellent collection of facts and photographs chronicling the growth of one of the world's greatest cities. Includes a small Maritime History section. This museum has moved since last visited. Please check google.com or a local phone book for their new location.
Chinese Historical Society Museum
This small museum is the only one in San Francisco to focus on the Chinese experience in America, from The Gold Rush to present day. Open Tuesday-Saturday. Free admission. 650 Commercial Street, San Francisco. 415 391 1188.
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