Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com is a fee-based service with extensive collections of geneaological information, such as Census records from the 1800s and 1900s, Birth, Marriage and Death records, Social Security Death Index, an Obituary collection, Immigration records, Passenger and Immigration lists, Military records, WWI Draft Registration Cards, Civil War Service Records, Newspapers and Periodicals, Historical newspaper collection, Slave Narratives, Court, Land and Probate records, Genealogical Library Master Index, and more. It's a constantly updated huge site with information gathered through the years that would be difficult to locate without their data bases.
California History Collections
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.
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.
This fine example of Streamline Moderne architecture features 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 has special exhibits and discussions relating to the Gold Rush, including "Found! The Wreck of the Frolic -- A Gold Rush Cargo for San Francisco. (February-September). Open daily. Free admission. The Maritime Historical National Park, which is adjacent to the Museum, has the largest collection of historical vessels in the United States, including the Ship Balclutha, Ferryboat Eureka (shown below), the working scow Alma and the USS Pampanito, a fully restored WWII Submarine. 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 world-famous Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, San Francisco. 415 556 3002
Wells Fargo History Museum
Exhibit of gold nuggets, Gold Rush implements, photos, and documents. Monday-Friday,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission. 420 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. 415 396
2619 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. The Cannery, Fisherman's Wharf, 2801 Leavenworth, 3rd Floor, San Francisco. 415 928 0289
Barbary Coast Trail
Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail brings old San Francisco alive
through stories, illustrations and maps. The 3.8 mile scenic walk was officially
dedicated May 9. The walk begins at the Old Mint near Powell and Market, covers
Union Square, meanders down Maiden Lane (which was far from "maidenly" in its
early days), through Chinatown, Portsmouth Square, the old Barbary Coast, North
Beach, Fisherman's Wharf and Aquatic Park, the Powell-Hyde Cable Car Line and
Nob Hill. Guides, including Daniel Bacon's "Walking San Francisco on the Barbary
Coast Trail" (Quicksilver Press), can be found in your local book store or
at the California Historical Society at Mission and Third Streets. Information:
415 775 1111
Illustration of the Gate to Chinatown from
"Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail."
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 California Indian Museum and Golden Gate Institute for
Indigenous Cultures
The museum, the first intertribal California Indian museum, includes an educational
institute and an Indian village, all of which highlight the many peoples who lived
in this state prior to the Gold Rush. Events include festivals, lectures, living
history demonstrations and storytelling. National Indian Justice Center. 707 762
8113 Native American History in the Presidio
One-hour walking tours focused on the Native American presence in the Presidio,
from prehistoric times through the Gold Rush era. California Indian Museum, San
Francisco: 415 561 3992 Heidrick Ag History Center, Woodland
Exhibits celebrate California's contributions to agriculture and pay tribute to
those who made discoveries other than gold in the soil of California.Information: 916 666 9700
Walking Tours of Old Sacramento
Guide-led walking tours emphasize historical dates and themes involving the Gold
Rush and early Sacramento from the viewpoint of gold-seekers arriving in Sacramento
in 1850 via clipper, schooner or steamboat. 916 443 2274 Sutter's Fort Living History, Sacramento
Portraying a typical day at the Fort in 1846, this event includes militia drills,
trapper and mountain men camps, open hearth cooking, spinning and weaving, carpentry
and other historic demonstrations. Sacramento Historic Sites Docent Association:
916 445 4422 San Joaquin County Historical Museum, Lodi
Through active participation, exhibits illustrate the experiences of people traveling
to California by various means, and the rigors of working in early placer style
mining which was important in the early days of the Gold Rush. January 24, 1998-January
1999. Information: 209 331 2055.
More on California Shipping History
The Mill Valley Masonic Lodge No. 356 has a unique connection with the most famous ship to have sailed in the Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the modern Coast Guard, the Revenue Cutter Bear. The full story is on their site.Maritime Links
Here's 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.
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.
The
Master Mariner
The above-referenced site, designed by a Dutch Master Mariner, is down. However,
I'm keeping up the treasture foud on his site a few years ago: The ship on
the left and Jimmy Buffet's lyrics below were borrowed from the former site.
As the son of a son of a sailor
I went out on the sea for adventure . . .
As the dreamer of dreams and a travelin man I have chalked many a mile
Read dozens of books
'bout heros and crooks
and learned much from both of their styles . . .
Jimmy Buffet
Smith has more than 600 listings of Maritime Museums and resources. He also has published a book with the listings. The book is available through his site.
Genealogical Sites
WorldGenWeb, USGenWeb and CAGenWeb Projects
The following are all excellent resources for locating ancestors. The sites
area well-organized collection of the work of volunteer transcribers all over
the United States.It has Census Information, Birth/Death/Obituaries, Tombstones, War and Pension Records, Information for Researchers, and more. Keep in mind that source materials are often difficult to read. If you think you've found an ancestor, but the first name is misspelled for example, it would be worth contacting the transcriber to ask if they will check back with the source list.
- WorldGenWeb
- USGENWEB Project
One of their newest areas in the USGenWeb project is the USGENWEB Digital Maps Project, which will have historical maps of the United States and its territories. - San Francisco County Genealogy
- Birth, Marriage And Death Index (England and Wales)
- Immigrant Ships
Transcribers Guild
The Ships List was established to assist those seeking information on the vessels which brought their ancestors to their new home, be that the United States, Canada, Australia, or another part of the world. Some ships passenger lists, schedules, wreck data, and other information which is not readily available, has been collected, along with links to other sites of interest.
Articles and photographs of immigration to the United States from Europe (Britain, Germany, Ireland, Italy) and from Asia, Latin America.
This site has 90,000 names on its Genealogy Index. Also has books on California history and a research service. Provides minimal information unless a fee is paid, but it's a great resource if you've hit a dead-end in locating family.
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)
Archival Operations Staff (NRHA-S)
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, CA 94066-2350
Telephone: 650-238-3501
Fax: 650-238-3510
E-mail: sanbruno.archives@nara.gov
Web: www.Archives.gov/Pacific/San-Francisco/index.html
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.
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Research
and WebDesign: D.A. Levy
Contact: D.A. Levy
www.maritimeheritage.org
Post Office Box 2878
Sausalito, California 94966
U.S.A.
Contact: D.A. Levy
www.maritimeheritage.org
Post Office Box 2878
Sausalito, California 94966
U.S.A.
Copyright
© 1998-2008
D.A. Levy/The Maritime Heritage Project
All rights reserved.
D.A. Levy/The Maritime Heritage Project
All rights reserved.
Updated February 2005