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

Lewis Bay Ark

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado

1. Lewis Bay Ark Marker

Inscription. Reputedly built for the McGinnis Family before 1900, this ark was hauled ashore around 1923. She passed through several hands before being donated to the museum in 1969.

This little houseboat, referred to locally as an ark, was one of several dozen boats moored out as summer hideaways for San Franisco families in Belvedere Cove, near Tiburon, in Marin County.

Summer aboard the arks was an idyllic time. The boats were brightly painted, and glowed at night with colorful Japanese lanterns. Evening were spent visiting between boats in neatly finished rowboats.

Basic Facts
Built: about 1890-1900
Builder: Unknown
Length Overall: 44 feet
Beam on Deck: 25 feet, 6 inches
Draft: 2 feet

”Here a bath is a matter of stepping off the porch, a stroll is taken in a boat, and the splash of oars announces butcher and baker.”
Albert B. Hunt, Houseboats and Houseboating, 1905

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1923.

Location. 37° 48.482′ N, 122° 25.251′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Fisherman's Wharf. Marker

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is on Hyde Street north of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north. The resin marker is mounted to a metal frame in front of the ark. The marker and sternwheel are just inside the fee area for the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park on the Hyde Street Pier. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2905 Hyde Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Petaluma’s Sternwheel (here, next to this marker); Wapama’s Engine (a few steps from this marker); Steam Donkey Engine (a few steps from this marker); The South End Rowing Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Sanitation at Sea (within shouting distance of this marker); The Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Why Here? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Port in Action (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. Inset Images:
The ark Minnehaha near Belvedere Island. Guests gather under am awning while a sailing tender waits alongside (main image); view of houseboats anchored in Alameda Creek (above).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Previous Marker: San Francisco Bay "Ark"

Also see . . .

Lewis Bay Ark and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, October 7, 2023

2. Lewis Bay Ark and Marker

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

"The Park includes a magnificent fleet of historic ships, a Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and Aquatic Park Historic District."

(Submitted on October 8, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 8, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.