San Francisco Bay and Bay Cruise Information

 

Sea Lions at Pier 39 © Pier39

Over 15,000 years ago, the Ohlone Indians settled into the stretch of coastal area between the San Francisco Bay and Point Sur. Because the Bay yielded such rich sea life and hosted a wide variety of indigenous plants and game animals, it easily provided a self-sufficient way of life for the Ohlone.

And then the settlers came, changing both how the land was used and by whom. Who arrived first is still unclear. By most accounts, however, Sir Francis Drake, is credited as the first to sail into and "discover" San Francisco Bay in 1579. The Bay wasn't adequately or officially mapped until Juan Manuel de Ayala began doing it systematically in 1775.

San Francisco Bay's natural harbor suited it well to the commerce it attracted. But in 1849, the year of the Gold Rush, lust for gold grew to such epidemic proportions that ship's officers and crews abandoned their ships carrying prospectors, leaving the vessels to sink and rot in the Bay. This irresponsible get-rich-quick philosophy resulted in landfill comprised of many layers of abandoned ships, which substantially reduced the Bay's size and seriously affected its drainage. Ongoing Bay maintenance has been a fact of life ever since.

Blue and Gold Fleet © Pier39

Today, the Bay still expedites the passage of thousands of boats for both commerce and pleasure. Its 60-mile length qualifies it as one of the largest bays in the world. Islands are scattered throughout: Treasure, Yerba Buena, Angel, and Alcatraz. Though nearly landlocked, the Bay parallels the coastline and meets the Pacific Ocean via a strait called the Golden Gate, which is spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge.

Blue and Gold Fleet © Pier39

The Bay's majestic yet bustling presence is a sight best enjoyed from the water. As you move through the waters, you'll appreciate the skyline, rolling hills, and striking coastline - all in one beautiful location.
 

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