Hayward in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Archimedes Screw Pump

From "The Oliver Salt Trail" by J. Herbert, M. Koslosky, and A. De Ponte

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

1. The Archimedes Screw Pump Marker

Inscription. In the late 1870’s, inventive Andrew Oliver studied the drawings of Archimedes (287-212 B.C.E) and built these wind driven screw pumps based on the ancient designs.

The wooden blades rotate in the wind, which turns the screw shaft visible under the clear panel.

The turning of the screw hoisted salt water up and into the waiting trough, where it was sent to the next salt pond for more evaporation and crystallization. It took five years for a pond of salt water to produce enough salt to harvest.

The Archimedes screw pumps stood 14 feet high and could raise 2,000 gallons of water per minute!

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 37.399′ N, 122° 8.244′ W. Marker is in Hayward, California, in Alameda County. Marker can be reached from Breakwater Avenue near Johnson Road. The marker is mounted to the wood deck behind the interpretive center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4901 Breakwater Avenue, Hayward CA 94545, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bay-Friendly Rated Landscapes in the City of Hayward (approx. 0.7 miles away); Riches from Seawater and Sun (approx. ¾

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mile away); Working in the Salt Ponds (approx. 0.8 miles away); Got Salt? (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wetland to Salt Pond and Back Again (approx. 0.8 miles away); A Salty Experiment in Habitat Management (approx. 0.9 miles away); Snowy Plovers Find a Home (approx. one mile away); Who Needs This Habitat The Most? (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hayward.

Also see . . .
1. Archimedes Screw Pump Redesignated as an ASME Landmark.

"The pump in Hayward is one of the oldest surviving examples of the wind-driven Archimedes Screw Pump in the United States."

(Submitted on October 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

2. PDF: Dedication of the Achimedes Screw Pump of the San Francisco Bay. A PDF of the excellent color brochure containing information about the Archimedes screw pump. (Submitted on October 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

The Archimedes Screw Pump Marker & Model image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

2. The Archimedes Screw Pump Marker & Model

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

3. The Archimedes Screw Pump Marker & Model

Archimedes Screw Pump In Background image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

4. Archimedes Screw Pump In Background

The Archimedes Screw Pump image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

5. The Archimedes Screw Pump

View From The Deck image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 5, 2022

6. View From The Deck

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 12, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.