San Francisco Maritime Museum

The San Francisco Maritime Museum Association was incorporated in California on January 6, 1950. The formal dedication of the San Francisco Maritime Museum occurred on May 27, 1951 in the Casino Building of Aquatic Park. The San Francisco Maritime Museum had its beginnings in the San Francisco Museum of Science and Industry, which was conceived by Mrs. Alma de Brettville Spreckels in 1939 and opened to the public in 1941. The Museum of Science and Industry was comprised mainly of an impressive collection of ship models and artifacts, which were exhibited at Aquatic Park and various other locations in the Bay Area during World War II. Karl Kortum, a maritime history enthusiast and able bodied seaman freshly returned from a voyage on the bark Kaiulani (1948), contacted Mrs. Spreckels to discuss his vision of a maritime museum for San Francisco. He believed that historic ships, on exhibit and available to the public, would create a more interesting and economically viable museum than ship models. In 1954, the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association undertook the purchase and restoration of the historic sailing vessel Balclutha. A year later, after extensive restoration, the Balclutha opened to the public at Pier 43. In 1956 a bill was passed through the state legislature that called for the purchase of the schooners C.A. Thayer and Wapama, and also created the San Francisco Maritime State Historic Park. The ferry Eureka and scow schooner Alma were acquired (1958-1959) and in 1960, the State Public Works Board approved the expenditure of $75,000 for the creation of an authentic Victorian Park. In 1977, the San Francisco Maritime State Historic Park became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; in 1978 the holdings of the San Francisco Maritime Museum Association were transferred to the National Park Service.

From the description of San Francisco Maritime Museum records 1921-1978 (bulk 1963-1977). (San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Library). WorldCat record id: 700289726