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

The River Lines

The Delta King and the Delta Queen

— 1927 – 1940 —

The River Lines Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

1. The River Lines Marker

The marker is embedded in the sidewalk.

Inscription. San Francisco - Daily - Sacramento
Leave 6:30 P.M. Arrive 5:30 A.M.
Marker 2:
June 1, 1927: The Delta King and Delta Queen begin the first of many two-day voyages between San Francisco and Sacramento, departing from Pier 3, the passengers and freight terminal of the California Transportation Company. Holding up to 3,000 guests, fare and accommodations were sold separately, with prices ranging $1 to $5 for accommodations and $3 for a round trip ticket.

Marker 3:
“The Delta King and Delta Queen were the last steamboats to carry passengers and freight between San Francisco and Sacramento. These historic paddle-wheelers are long recognized as California’s most famous riverboats. Based in the city, serving 1927 to 1940, they began and ended their careers at Pier 3.
Stan Garvey, Author of “King and Queen of the River”

Marker 4:
“I will sing in San Francisco if I have to sing in the streets, for I know that the streets of San Francisco are Free.”
Luisa Tetrazzini, SF’s All Time Favorite Soprano

Marker 5:
”No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does. Arrival

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in San Francisco is an experience in living.”
William Saroyan, Author

Marker 6:
“One day, if I do go to heaven...I’ll look around and say, ‘It ain’t bad, but it ain’t San Francisco.’”
Herb Caen, Columnist

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1861.

Location. 37° 47.846′ N, 122° 23.734′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Northern Waterfront. It is on The Embarcadero. This marker is located at the entrance to Pier 3. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 The Embarcadero, San Francisco CA 94105, 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. At least 8 other markers are within

Delta King and Delta Queen - Marker 2 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

2. Delta King and Delta Queen - Marker 2

walking distance of this marker: Piers 1½, 3 & 5 (a few steps from this marker); Herb Caen Way (within shouting distance of this marker); Ferry Boats (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pier 1, Working Waterfront: Design and Construction (about 300 feet away); The Embarcadero Freeway (about 400 feet away); Pier 1, Working Waterfront: Ferry Service (about 500 feet away); Captain Leidesdorff (about 500 feet away); Pier 1, Working Waterfront: The 1934 Strike (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. This marker is located at the entrance to Pier 3. The entrance leads to a waterfront promenade which is part of the San Francisco Bay Trail. Several plaques, some historical and some notable quotes about San Francisco, are incorporated into the railing.

Also see . . . Delta Queen. Steamboats entry (Submitted on February 27, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Delta King and Delta Queen - Marker 3 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

3. Delta King and Delta Queen - Marker 3

Quote by Luisa Tetrazzini, SF’s All Time Favorite Soprano - Marker 4 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

4. Quote by Luisa Tetrazzini, SF’s All Time Favorite Soprano - Marker 4

Quote by William Saroyan, Author - Marker 5 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

5. Quote by William Saroyan, Author - Marker 5

Quote by Herb Caen, Columnist - Marker 6 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

6. Quote by Herb Caen, Columnist - Marker 6

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

7. The River Lines Marker

The marker is behind the right post.

Pier 3 and the Waterfront Promenade image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, April 15, 2012

8. Pier 3 and the Waterfront Promenade

The Delta King image. Click for more information.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 26, 2007

9. The Delta King

Today the Delta King is a floating hotel moored on the Sacramento River at Old Sacramento.
Online Steamboat Museum entry
Click for more information.

The Delta King image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 26, 2007

10. The Delta King

Photographed by Syd Whittle, April 26, 2009

11. Delta King

As seen from The River Walk, West Sacramento

Credits. This page was last revised on September 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,057 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 1, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 11. submitted on February 27, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.