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

Shipbuilding at Steamboat Point

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 18, 2014

1. Shipbuilding at Steamboat Point Marker

Inscription. At the time of the Gold Rush, Tichenor's Ways built and repaired early wooden steamboats and vessels. Calm but deep water near Steamboat Point helped this industry thrive. Henry B. Tichenor built a marine railways in 1851, but shipbuilding moved south when Pacific Rolling Mills, an ironworks ship builder, moved its operation to Pier 70.

Did you know...
Following the 1850s Gold Rush, real estate along the waterfront could be claimed by sinking a ship and filling the bay around it. The protruding ships were used as warehouses, hotels, jails, homes, brothels, and pretty much anything else imaginable.

Erected 2013 by Port of San Francisco.

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

Location. 37° 46.838′ N, 122° 23.307′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in South Beach. It is on King Street / The Embarcadero near Townsend Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 King Street, San Francisco CA 94107, 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 walking distance of this marker: Ghost Ship - Lydia (a few steps from this marker); Whaling Out of San Francisco

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Java House (about 300 feet away); Orlando Manuel Cepeda (about 400 feet away); Townsend Street (about 400 feet away); Gaylord Jackson Perry (about 500 feet away); King Street (about 500 feet away); San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame (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 southern end of South Beach Park.

Also see . . . Steamboat Point, 1851-1864 - FoundSF. By 1851, although there were suddenly hundreds of vessels of all sizes and types operating in and out of San Francisco, the city had no facility for hauling or drydocking vessels for bottom-cleaning, caulking, coppering or other repairs below the waterline. To meet this obvious need, Henry B. Tichenor constructed a marine railway at the foot of Second Street in 1851. Then as now, a marine railway consisted of tracks laid out into the water from above the high-tide line. To haul a vessel out of the water, it was maneuvered onto a stout iron-wheeled cradle
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 18, 2014

2. Shipbuilding at Steamboat Point Marker
that was drawn up the inclined railway by a windlass or capstan. Tichenor’s lot, partly land and partly water, with access to deep water close at hand, was ideally suited for ship repair. (Submitted on March 2, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 18, 2014

3. Shipbuilding at Steamboat Point Marker

Tichenor’s Ways, the Foot of Second Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Unknown

4. Tichenor’s Ways, the Foot of Second Street

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 540 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 2, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.