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

Towing in the Open Ocean

Hercules' First Career, 1908-1924

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

1. Towing in the Open Ocean Marker

Captions: (background) Hercules tows the W.P. Pirrie, about 1910.; (upper left) Hercules towed log rafts from the Columbia River to San Diego.; (upper center) Hercules deckhand prepares to cast off the tow wire from a log raft at San Diego, about 1910.

Inscription. The Hercules was an "outside" tug built to live and pull in the open ocean. She could steam for 30 days or 8,000 miles without refueling, and her crew could travel from bow to stern without exposure to rough weather. Few West Coast boats could match Hercules' strength and stamina on ocean tows.
Between 1908 and 1924 Hercules towed sailing ships, schooners, disabled steamers, and heavy equipment (like dredges and dry-docks) to distant ports like Papeete, Tahiti, and Jacksonville Florida. In the early years, she moved ship-sized barges of crude oil to San Francisco Bay refineries. Later she towed massive cigar-shaped rafts of logs down the Coast to Southern California, and barges of coal from the Pacific Northwest to San Francisco.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 37° 48.589′ N, 122° 25.336′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Fisherman's Wharf. It can be reached from Hyde Street near Jefferson Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2950 Hyde Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is 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 finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Workin' on the Railroad (here, next to this marker); Steam Tug Hercules (here, next to this marker); The Deckhouse (a few steps from this marker); The Half-Deck (a few steps from this marker); The Carpenter Shop... (a few steps from this marker); The Cathead... (a few steps from this marker); The Forecastle... (a few steps from this marker); Balclutha (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

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

Also see . . . The Labors of Hercules - National Park Service. This is a National Park Service exhibit shown at the San Francisco Maritime Nation Historical Park Visitors Center from July 2007 to Spring 2008. (Submitted on March 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

2. Towing in the Open Ocean Marker

The marker is on the right and the steam tug Hercules is in the background.
"Photos, text, and maps from a 2008 exhibit about Hercules."

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 8, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.