Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

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Ferryboat Eureka

Ferryboat <i>Eureka</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

1. Ferryboat Eureka Marker

Captions: (main photo) The Ukiah underway on the bay; ("walking beam" diagram, bottom right) A typical walking beam engine.

Inscription. Eureka was originally launched as the Ukiah, a rail car and passenger ferry. She ran between San Francisco and Tiburon for the San Francisco and Northern Pacific Railroad, later the Northwestern Pacific.
Between 1920 and 1922 Ukiah was totally rebuilt as the automobile ferry Eureka. She ran to Marin until 1941, and to Oakland until 1957, one of the last auto ferries on the bay.
Eureka's huge single cylinder "walking beam" engine is the last such engine afloat in this country. Technically outdated by the 1890s, these slow turning paddle engines remained popular for their simplicity and reliability.

BASIC FACTS:
Built: 1890, Tiburon, California
Builder: San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, George Dickie, Contactor.
Length Overall - 299 feet , 6 inches
Beam Over Guards - 78 feet, 6 inches
Draft - 10 feet
Gross Tonnage - 2420
Engine Type - Single cylinder walking beam

Erected by U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed.

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It was located near 37° 48.542′ N, 122° 25.27′ W. Marker was in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It was in Fisherman's Wharf. It could be reached from Hyde Street near Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 2950 Hyde Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was on California’s Coast Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Highway 101 (here, next to this marker); Hyde Street Pier Was Part of Highway 101 (a few steps from this marker); Schooner C.A. Thayer (within shouting distance of this marker); Why Here? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Port in Action (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanitation at Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); Paddle Tug Eppleton Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Ship Balclutha (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Return of the C.A. Thayer (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Tug Sea Fox (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); The Tubbs Cordage Building

Ferryboat <i>Eureka</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

2. Ferryboat Eureka

(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Petaluma's Sternwheel (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Hyde Street Pier (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The ferryboat Eureka, part of the San Francisco Maritime Nation Historical Park, is located on the Hyde Street Pier at the bottom of Hyde Street.

Also see . . .
1. Eureka (ferryboat) - Wikipedia. Although a number of large ferryboats survive in the US, Eureka is the only one with a wooden hull. She is one of the most impressive remaining examples of traditional American wooden shipbuilding...
Her walking beam engine was originally powered by coal-fired boilers that were converted to oil in 1905. The engine was built in 1890 by the Fulton Iron Works in San Francisco. It is the only walking beam engine in the United States preserved in a floating vessel. (Submitted on March 6, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Sidewheeler ferryboat Eureka model - YouTube. A YouTube video of a working walking beam model on the Eureka. (Submitted on March 6, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

The automobile deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

3. The automobile deck

Additional commentary.
1. Marker Removed
The marker has been removed, but the ferryboat is still there. Park staff said they are preparing for the pier to be demolished and rebuilt. Some displays will be replaced.

— Submitted October 8, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.

Additional keywords. Ferryboat Eureka

The passenger deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

4. The passenger deck

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

5. Ferryboat Eureka

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

6. Ferryboat Eureka

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 783 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 6, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.