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Sponsored: UPDATED Western Neighborhoods Project: ‘Shipwreck Week’ Fact Sheet

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Western Neighborhoods Project Shipwreck Week Fact Sheet

OVERVIEW

On October 7-14, Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP), a cultural nonprofit dedicated to sharing and preserving the history of west San Francisco, is hosting the city’s first Shipwreck Week. The week presents eight days of unique community events, programming, and activities that cut through the fog of history to share fascinating tales that spotlight San Francisco’s storied connection to the unruly Pacific.

Shipwreck Week includes in-person happenings such as ShipWRECKED!, a live conversation between former National Park Service historians Stephen Haller and John Martini at the Balboa Theater; a San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park Chantey Sing at The Riptide bar in the Parkside District; a Lands End History Walk, and new WNP merchandise and art at the (newly reopened) Great Highway Gallery in the Outer Sunset District. In addition, WNP will release thematic content, inclusive of new Outside Lands San Francisco podcast episodes, articles, a YouTubespecial, and more. 

FULL SCHEDULE

  • Saturday, October 7th: On the Outside Lands San Francisco podcast, WNP’s Chelsea Sellin and Nicole Meldahl dive into two harrowing shipwreck stories they first learned about in “Shipwrecks at the Golden Gate,” written by revered historians James Delgado and Stephen Haller.
  • Sunday, October 8th: A moment of silence for those who have perished on the sea.
  • Monday, October 9th: Check out a brand new History Minute video on WNP’s YouTube channel, answering a very important question: why are there so many shipwrecks around San Francisco?
  • Tuesday, October 10th: Tap into your inner seadog with a hangout and Chantey Sing at The Riptide at 3639 Taraval Street from 6-9 pm (21+ only with valid ID), complete with an exclusive spicy rum cocktail special. The Chantey Sing, in partnership with San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, will take place at 7 pm While free, please RSVP in advance.
  • Wednesday, October 11th: Read an exclusive Opensfhistory.org article about the second life of the oil tanker Lyman Stewart after it wrecked on Lands End in 1922, written by lauded historian John Martini.
  • Thursday, October 12th: ShipWRECKED!: Attend a lively conversation between former National Park Service historians and longtime friends Stephen Haller and John Martini, plus film footage from the Prelinger Archives, at the Balboa Theater from 6:30-9:00 pm. General admission tickets are $40 and special VIP tickets are available for $70. See the Eventbrite listing for more details and to claim your seat before this once-in-a-lifetime voyage sells out.
  • Friday, October 13th: The Great Highway gallery rises from the deep and reopens as the official purveyor of WNP merchandise. Beloved gallery owner John Lindsey is back and he’ll be serving local art next door to his forthcoming restaurant, Rusty Ladle. Come out to 3649 Lawton Street from 6-9pm to celebrate the return of this Sunset District anchor and get your Shipwreck Week souvenirs while supplies last—including limited-edition prints of exclusive illustrations by local artist Norio Fujikawa. Plus, the Aloha Uke Squad will be there to perform popular music that everyone loves!
  • Saturday, October 14th: Say bon voyage to Shipwreck Week by joining a Lands End History Walk with historian John Martini. Tickets are $10 for WNP members and $20 for non-members. Then, wind down from the tidal wave of happenings experienced during Shipwreck Week by listening to the latest episode of Outside Lands San Francisco, starring special guest Sabrina Oliveros, San Francisco Maritime National Park guide and podcast host.

WESTERN SAN FRANCISCO SHIPWRECK FACTS

  • The waters that surround San Francisco are a veritable ship graveyard, hiding hundreds of wrecks (many of which remain undiscovered).
    • The King Philip, a 19th-century clipper ship wrecked in 1878 at what’s now Ocean Beach at Noriega Street. The remnants of this ship are rarely visible with its timbers infrequently seen protruding from the shore
    • Two shipwrecks are still visible at Lands End at low tide — the Lyman Stewart (1922) and the Frank H. Buck (1937)
    • There used to be a Lifesaving Station in Golden Gate Park with a crew dedicated to assist with ships in distress; the 1878 building was moved to 47th Avenue and still stands today as a residence
    • Learn about many more during WNP’s Shipwreck Week!

MORE INFORMATION

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