Hi All. Hyde Street Pier has just started a news letter. I figure I would post the first one even though I am not the author; that honor goes to Peter Kasin. If you would like to join the mailing list please e-mail Peter at peter_kasin@nps.gov

Enjoy!
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Welcome to the launching of the monthly email newsletter from San Francisco
Maritime National Historical Park, your National Park Service site on San
Francisco's historic waterfront. Here and in future issues you will find
updates on ship restoration, ranger-led programs, library presentations
featuring maritime historians and world sea adventurers, sailing and
boatbuilding classes, traditional sea music programs, children's
activities, costumed living history, and other events and news. We invite
you to visit and take part in these programs! Feel free to forward this
newsletter in whole or in part, or enter into blogs. This list is never
sold or loaned, and you may cancel at any time by emailing
peter_kasin@nps.gov.

Here are a few of the programs happening in February. For a complete
schedule of programs, please see the park's website at
www.nps.gov/safr. For further information on the park and its
programs, please call the Visitor Center at 415-447-5000.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Celebrate Black History Month all through February. African Americans have
played a major role in our maritime history. From the earliest days of our
nation to modern times, African Americans built, crewed, and captained
ships, fought in naval battles, invented shipboard tools, and helped
develop maritime music. We invite you to visit and take part in these
family programs:

African Americans in the Maritime Trades
View this exhibit of rare photographs from our collection, and learn about
African American officers, sailors, cooks, longshoremen and shipbuilders.
Shown daily throughout February
in the Visitor Center, 499 Jefferson Street, at Hyde Street. Visitor Center
open daily 9:30am-5:00pm. No fee.

William Shorey: Whaling Ship Captain
Ranger Carol Kiser presents an audio-visual program on the extraordinary
life of William Shorey, the only Black whaling ship captain on the West
Coast.
Sundays, February 10 and 24, 1:00pm-1:30pm.
In the Visitor Center Theater, 499 Jefferson Street, at Hyde Street. No
fee.

Chanteys: The African American and Caribbean Connection
Join park ranger Peter Kasin and park volunteer Richard Adrianowicz in a
program of African American and Caribbean based work songs of sailors,
stevedores, oarsmen, and fishermen. The choruses to these songs are easy to
sing, and you are encouraged to sing along.
Saturday, February 23, 3:00pm-3:45pm.
Aboard the historic sailing ship Balclutha, berthed at Hyde Street Pier.
Ships admission: Adults, $5, under 16, free. Free with national park passes
(show pass at Hyde Street Pier ticket booth).

Maritime Routes of the Underground Railroad
Learn about African enslavement, the Middle Passage, the slave trade
between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, and stories of escapes by ships
as routes to freedom. National Park Service Underground Railroad Project
Pacific West Region director Guy Washington presents an audio-visual
program on this compelling aspect of Underground Railroad history.
Sunday, February 24, 2:00pm-2:45pm.
In the Visitor Center Theater, 499 Jefferson Street, at Hyde Street. No
fee.


AT THE J. PORTER SHAW LIBRARY
Throughout the year, our maritime research library presents evening public
presentations by historians, authors, and sea adventurers.
JoAnn Semones, author of Shipwrecks, Scalawags, and Scavengers: The Storied
Waters of Pigeon Poiint, will present the history of this local landmark on
Saturday, February 9, 6:00pm. Donation: $5, members, $4. Reservations:
415-561-7040, or email melani_van_petten@partner.nps.gov.


SMALL BOAT SHOP UPDATE
Small craft curators Bill Doll, John Muir, and Jason Rucker, along with
volunteers, are putting the finishing touches on the restoration of the
Bear class boat Merry Bear's topside deck, and is getting her interior
built out. In addition, the park's new work boat is getting her final
fittings. Both are on display in the Small Boat Shop for you to view, watch
the work, and talk with curators and volunteers.


BALCLUTHA UPDATE
Winter work mode means chasing down deck leaks between rain storms and
regular checking of mooring and gangway. Rigging crewmember Chris Jannini
reports that the ongoing big projects are installation of a new fore
t'gallant/royal mast, and replacement/installation of anti-slip treads on
all of the ladders. You can view the mast, under construction, in the lower
(auto) deck of the ferry Eureka. Come down and watch the rigging crew and
volunteers work at traditional methods of of shipboard maintenance., We
also offer daily guided tours at 2:15, where you can discover daily life
aboard this 19th-century Cape Horner.


C.A. THAYER REHABILITATION UPDATE
This 1895-built lumber schooner returned to Hyde Street Pier in 2007 after
an extended drydocking to rebuild her hull. 20% of her older timbers were
saved and rebuild of her deckhouses will soon be getting underway, as we
await the delivery of new lumber. The principle behind her rehabilitation
is that anything removed due to rot is documented and replaced with new
wood, to be fitted exactly the same. This insures the integrity of her
historic design. Currently, the interior of the aft deckhouse has been
documented and removed. Late spring anticipates complete coating: topsides
painted, including rails and waterways, and deck oiled. Watch for further
monthly updates from her chief shipwright, Phil Erwin. You're invited to
view her rehabilitation and talk with the shipwrights about their work.
They will be glad to answer your questions. The shipwright shop is located
on Hyde Street Pier. Due to safety concerns, the Thayer is not yet open for
self-guided tours. Ranger-led tours, though, are available. Please call the
Visitor Center at 415-447-5000 a few days prior to your visit to find out
when a tour is scheduled.


ALMA UPDATE
Looking ahead to March, the 1891 scow schooner Alma will begin her first
full season of interpretive sails around the bay. You'll be invited to join
in on line hauling, or just have a relaxing sail and learn about San
Francisco's maritime history. For schedules and more information, please
call the Visitor Center at 415-447-5000. Details to follow in furure
newsletters.


AQUATIC PARK BATHHOUSE (MARITIME MUSEUM) RESTORATION UPDATE
The museum is currently closed for major renovation. The first phase of the
project, renovating the roof and windows, is scheduled to be completed this
year, in the late spring. A new elevator is being installed, which will
provide full access to the 3rd floor. Restoration of the bleachers and
underground structure is scheduled to begin this summer. As the bleachers
project gets underway, restoration of the WPA era interior murals in the
lobby of the museum building will begin. In the meantime, plans are
underway to conduct ranger-led tours of the magnificent WPA artwork of the
building's interior and exterior. Hilaire Hiler and Sargent Johnson were
two of the artists on the WPA rolls who helped make this building into an
artistic treasure. Watch for tour schedules in future newsletters. (Please
note that the San Francisco Senior Center, housed in the building, remains
open).


EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATE: PREPARING YOUTH FOR A CARIBBEAN SAILING VOYAGE
The park, and its cooperating association, the San Francisco Maritime
National Park Association, are bringing to the pier as many young people as
possible, and are very excited to be hosting the girls from the Tall Ship
Education Academy this February, for two-thirds of their 18-week semester.
The first six weeks will be spent in preparation for a six week voyage
aboard a traditionally rigged ship in the Caribbean. The girls will be on
Hyde Street Pier twice a week, engaging in intense classroom study and
physical training. Towards the end of February, they will leave the
classroom and get out on the water in the park's fleet of Pelican small
boats to learn the basics of sailing and seamanship. We look forward to
helping the crew prepare for such an exciting voyage! We will update you on
boatbuilding projects they'll engage in after their return in April. The
friendships, teamwork skills, and self confidence gained from this amazing
experience could last a lifetime.


VOLUNTEERING
Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. To find out about
volunteering in support of ship restoration, boatbuilding, the library,
exhibits shop, interpretation, and in other departments, please call the
Volunteer Coordinator at 415-556-1613.

LOOKING AHEAD
Looking ahead to upcoming monthly newsletters: Women's History Month
programs / An article by assistant small craft curator Jason Rucker on a
high school boatbuilding project / a profile of Alice Watts, celebrating
her 25 years at the park as education program instructor, First Mate, and
galley cook / launching of the Maritime Heritage Learning Center /
beginning of this year's costumed Living History program / the park's Girl
Scout program / celebrating 20th anniversary as a national park / Festival
of Sail / monthly restoration updates.

For complete listings of park events and of events presented by our park
partners, please see these websites:

www.nps.gov/safr. San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

www.maritime.org. San Francisco Maritime National Park
Association, our park's member supported cooperating association.

www.maritimelibraryfriends.org Friends of the San Francisco
Maritime Museum Library, our research library's member supported
cooperating association.


Fair winds, and have a great February!