Central Waterfront in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Industrialization of the Shoreline

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020

1. Industrialization of the Shoreline Marker

Inscription. With the coming of the Gold Rush, the landscape began to change rapidly. Access to deep water made this an attractive location for early maritime industries. The Tubbs Cordage Company located to Potrero Point in the mid-1850s and built a 1,000 yard long shed called a “rope walk” for weaving strands of hemp and other fibers together into long lengths of cordage to serve the sailing ships of the day. E.I. Du Pont de Nemours Company manufactured black powder at the very tip of Potrero Point, beginning in 1854, until the encroachment of the rapidly expanding city became too close for safety.

Soon, the Pacific Rolling Mills, the first steel mill on the West Coast, was established here, followed by Risdon Iron Works which specialized in the fabrication of steam locomotives, a sugar refinery, and a manufactured gas power plant; they became neighbors and were located immediately south of the Union Iron Works shipyard.

Erected 2020 by Union Iron Works Historic District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 37° 45.823′ N, 122° 23.229′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Central

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Waterfront. Marker can be reached from Illinois Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Steel Lathe (within shouting distance of this marker); Crane 14 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Industrial Architecture (about 300 feet away); Building 49 (about 300 feet away); Yard Evolution: New Power and Production (about 300 feet away); Yard Layout: Form Follows Function (about 300 feet away); Ship Propeller Drive Shaft (about 500 feet away); Radial Drill Press (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. The marker is located in the north half of Crane Cove Park (opened October, 2020), just a few steps from the water.

Industrialization of the Shoreline Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020

2. Industrialization of the Shoreline Marker - wide view

Marker inset: Small Boatyards image. Click for full size.

3. Marker inset: Small Boatyards

"There were small boatyards in this area of the waterfront by 1868. John North's and Henry Ewing's boatyards turned out wooden hulled steamers for use on the state's inland waterways between San Francisco and Stockton and Sacramento."

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.