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

Southbeach Shoreline – 1852

By Barry Swackhamer, March 20, 2014

1. Southbeach Shoreline – 1852 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1852 you would have been standing on a bluff overlooking the narrow beach just below that followed the approximate line of King Street. First accurately charted by the U.S. Coast Survey topographical engineers in 1852, the shoreline was named Steamboat Point after the boatyards on the beach. All of the land that you can see on the bay side of King Street is man-made, created by filling the bay. Massive timber cribbing was built to hold large rocks, and thousand of cubic yards of the city’s sandhills and rubble were dumped on top. The construction of the seawall beyond and beneath the foot of King Street and the Embarcadero in 1905 fixed the line of the present shoreline.

“Oh you Saints look don (sic) on the new made town. And tell me, pray, which way to go? Oh the shoreline’s deranged and everything’s changed. Tell me, pray, which way to go?” - South of Market Journal, 1926

Erected by San Francisco Art Commission for the Waterfront Transportation Projects.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features

By Barry Swackhamer, March 20, 2014

2. Southbeach Shoreline – 1852 Marker

The shoreline is marked by a bronze ribbon.

• Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 46.738′ N, 122° 23.462′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. Marker is on King Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 160 King Street, San Francisco CA 94107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Garcia and Maggini Warehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Steamboat Point (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Willie Howard Mays, Jr. (about 400 feet away); California Electric Building (about 400 feet away); King Street (about 500 feet away); Gaylord Jackson Perry (about 500 feet away); Orlando Manuel Cepeda (about 600 feet away); The Francis "Lefty" O'Doul Third Street Bridge (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

By Barry Swackhamer, March 20, 2014

3. Southbeach Shoreline – 1852 Marker

The shoreline is marked by a bronze ribbon.

Old shoreline marked at 20 Federal Street image. Click for full size.

By Barry Swackhamer, March 20, 2014

4. Old shoreline marked at 20 Federal Street

Federal Street Shoreline plaque image. Click for full size.

By Barry Swackhamer, March 20, 2014

5. Federal Street Shoreline plaque

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 618 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.