When James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma, California, on January 24, 1848, word spread quickly (especially for a time well before social media). Within a little over a year, a stream of people (the forty-niners) came rushing into California, not only via land but also sea. Many hastily left behind their modes of transportation in hopes of striking it rich. And, so, today, when you’re walking around the streets of San Francisco’s financial district, you may actually have an old buried ship right underneath your feet. The history behind what lies beneath the streets of San Francisco is amazing.
Filled with gold seekers from New York and Panama, the SS California was the first steamer to enter the Golden Gate in 1849.
Wikimedia Commons
Other such packed vessels soon followed thanks to advertisements like this.
Wikimedia Commons
Already by the summer of 1850, over 500 vessels were anchored in Yerba Buena Cove, an area that today runs from the intersection of Battery and Broadway to the start of the Bay Bridge.
Wikimedia Commons
After arriving in San Francisco, many abandoned their ships, letting them rot in the bay as they headed off to seek their treasure.
Wikimedia Commons
This 1853 map shows Yerba Buena Cove slowly being filled in with sand and landfill, extending the city by some 8 more blocks from the waterfront.
Wikimedia Commons
As the city grew even more, most of the abandoned ships were repurposed for stores, saloons, and hotels. But some were left to sink or simply be built on top of. This map from SFGenealogy plots out the areas where buried ships have been discovered and are thought to possibly be.
SFGenealogy
Over time, ships like this, an 1840 vessel, have been discovered throughout downtown San Francisco.
National Park Service
To get an idea of where the old shoreline once was, head over to the Transamerica Pyramid.
Neil Howard/Flickr
A trip to the Old Ship Saloon on Pacific Avenue takes you right into the bow of a stranded ship, the “Arkansas,” which sailed into the bay in 1849.
Tiocfaidh ár lá 1916/Flickr
To experience more of San Francisco’s history, we recommend checking out the city’s oldest restaurant.
Wikimedia Commons
SFGenealogy
National Park Service
Neil Howard/Flickr
Tiocfaidh ár lá 1916/Flickr
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