Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

Fisherman's Wharf
—  Neighborhood of San Francisco  —
Fisherman's Wharf sign
Fisherman's Wharf Location within Central San Francisco
Coordinates: 37°48′30″N 122°24′56″W
Country	United States
State	California
City	City and County of San Francisco

Aerial view of Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is a neighborhood and popular tourist attraction in San Francisco, California. It roughly encompasses the northern waterfront area of San Francisco from Ghirardelli Square or Van Ness Avenue east to Pier 35 or Kearny Street. The F Market streetcar runs through the area, the Powell-Hyde cable car lines runs to Aquatic Park, at the edge of Fisherman's Wharf, and the Powell-Mason cable car line runs a few blocks away.

History

Fisherman's Wharf gets its name and neighborhood characteristics from the city's early days during the Gold Rush where Italian emigre fishermen settled in the area and fished for the Dungeness Crab. From then until present day it remained the home base of San Francisco's fishing fleet. Despite its redevelopment into a tourist attraction during the 1970s and 1980s, the area is still home to many active fishermen and their fleets.

Attractions and characteristics

Tourists enjoy Dungeness crab at Fisherman's Wharf.

One of the busiest and well known tourist attractions in the western United States, Fisherman's Wharf is best known for being the location of Pier 39, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, the Cannery Shopping Center, Ghirardelli Square, a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum, the Musée Mécanique, the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf, Forbes Island and restaurants and stands that serve fresh seafood, most notably Dungeness crab and clam chowder served in a sourdough bread bowl. Some of the restaurants, like Pompei's Grotto and Alioto's #8, go back for three generations of the same family ownership. Nearby Pier 45 has a chapel in memory of the "Lost Fishermen" of San Francisco and Northern California.

Other attractions in Fisherman's Wharf area are the Hyde Street Pier which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the USS Pampanito, a decommissioned World War II era submarine, and the Balclutha, a 19th century cargo ship.

Fisherman's Wharf plays host to many San Francisco events, including a world-class fireworks display for Fourth of July, and some of the best views of the Fleet Week air shows.

One of the city's most popular figures is a harmless but controversial resident of Fisherman's Wharf called the World Famous Bushman, a local street performer who sits behind some branches and startles people who walk by. He has gained notoriety during the 30 years he has been doing this.

In 1985, the wharf was used as a filming location in the James Bond film A View to a Kill, where Bond (played for the last time by Roger Moore) met with CIA agent Chuck Lee (David Yip) in his quest to eliminate the villain of the film Max Zorin (Christopher Walken).

See also

• Hyde Street Pier old automobile ferry site made obsolete by the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges
• 49-Mile Scenic Drive
• Fisherman's Wharfs in other places
• F Market, the San Francisco Municipal Railway historic streetcar linking the Wharf to Market Street
• Pier 39
• Musée Mécanique

External links

• Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District
• Street map from Mapquest
• Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association
• JB Monaco Fisherman's Wharf Photo Gallery
• WharfPass - A one price discount pass for Bay Cruises, Bus tours and Wharf attractions
• Forbes Island