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Where can I find info on where in the harbor certain goldrush ships were docked. I am looking for info about the ship "Pacific" which docked on 8/5/1849.

-- Elizabeth Masten (elizabethmasten111@cox.net), August 04, 2004

Answers

I don't know which Wharf the 'Pacific' used, but a good guess might be Commercial Street Wharf (aka Central Wharf, Long Wharf). Here is a complete list to choose from:

Wharves

San Francisco Docks and Wharves from 1849 to 1862:

Abernethy, Clark & Co.'s Wharf Ñ from Stewart between Market and Mission (54, 56, 62); 137 by 60 (54), 200 by 60 (56). Commenced March 1853 (54).
Batchelder's Wharf Ñ from Stewart between Market and Mission (56, 62).
Brannan's Wharf Ñ from Stewart between Mission and Howard (56, 62); 237 by 45 (56).
Brenan & Batchelder's Wharf Ñ see Batchelder's Wharf (56).
Broadway Wharf Ñ on Broadway (52, 53, 54, 56, 59, 62); from ? 200+ by 36 (52), from Front 750 by 60 (54), from Davis 800 by 80 (56). Commenced Spring 1851 (54). The Wharf was finished on the first of last August [1851]. (52)
Burnham's Wharf Ñ pier 2 Stewart (62).
California Street Wharf Ñ California built out to Market (52). See also Market Street Wharf.
Central Wharf Ñ see Commercial Street Wharf.
Clay Street Wharf Ñ on Clay (54, 56, 62); from Davis 1550 by 50 (54), from East 800 by 50 (56). Commenced February 1853.
Commercial Street Wharf (aka Central Wharf, Long Wharf) Ñ on Commercial (52, 53, 54, 56, 62); from Montgomery 3500? by ? (52), from Davis 1400 by 57 (54), from East 600 by 47 (56). Commenced April 1849 at Montgomery (54).
Cowell's Wharf (aka Shaw's Wharf) Ñ from Battery between Union and Filbert (54, 59, 56, 62); 324 by 65 (54, 56). Commenced in June 1853.
Cunningham's Wharf Ñ from Battery (52, 53), from Front (56, 59, 62) between Green and Vallejo; to between Front and Davis with a T-section at end (52, 53).
Dockham's Wharf Ñ from Stewart east, next south of Ryan & Duff's (54).
East Street Wharf Ñ between Clay and Washington (62).
Felt's Wharf Ñ from Stewart near Mission (56).
Flint's Wharf Ñ from Battery (54) between Filbert and Greenwich (56); 500 by 75 (54). Commenced February 1853 (54).
Folsom Street Wharf Ñ on Folsom (56, 62), united length of main wharf and arms, extending north on East and South on Stewart (56); 893 by 55 (56). See also Pacific M.S.S. Co.'s Wharf.
Front Street Wharf Ñ from Front (54); 170 by 60 (54). Commenced March 1853 (54).
Greenwich Dock Ñ from Battery (56, 62) north of Greenwich (56); 175 by 60 (56).
Griffing's Wharf Ñ from Battery between Filbert and Greenwich (52, 53, 62).
Ham & Hathaway's Wharf Ñ near corner of Harrison (56) from Spear (62), Rincon Point (56, 62); 250 by 80 (56).
Howard Street Wharf Ñ on Howard at corner of Stewart (56, 62); 137 by 45 (56).
India Dock Ñ from Battery (59, 62).
Jackson Street Wharf Ñ on Jackson (53, 54, 56, 59, 62); from Davis (53), Drumm 700 by 50 (54), from East 600 by 50 (56). Commenced August 1853 (54).
Law's Wharf Ñ northwest, between the extension of Commerce and Union streets (50, 52, 53); 70 by 150 (50).
Lombard Dock Ñ from Lombard, from Sansome to Battery (56, 62).
Long Wharf Ñ see Commercial Street Wharf.
Main Street Wharf Ñ from Market street Wharf S.E. to Rincon Point; 2000 by ? (54). Commenced April 1853 (54).
Market Street Wharf Ñ on Market (51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 62); from First 2200 by 40 (54), from East 600 by 50 (56). Commenced July 1850 (54). "Market Wharf is run out to the
Eastern side of Front street; it then commences again at the extremity of California Wharf..." (52).
Mastick's Wharf Ñ from Stewart between Mission and Howard (56, 62); 300 by 46 (56).
Meiggs' Wharf Ñ from Francisco between Powell and Mason (54, 56, 62); 1600 by 42 to Jefferson, thence East on Jefferson 260 by 70 (54), 1600 by 42 with two arms of 260 each (56).
Minturn's Wharf Ñ from Vallejo to Cunningham's Wharf (59).
Mission Street Wharf Ñ from Mission, corner of Stewart (54, 56, 62); from Main street Wharf 136 by 24 (54), 600 by 50 (56). Commenced October 1853 (54).
Nelson's Wharf Ñ from East between Market and Central wharves (56, 62); 100 by 40 (56).
North Point Dock Ñ on Sansome, from Lombard to Chestnut (54, 56, 62); 212 by 40 (54), 300 by 40 (56). Commenced in June 1853 (54).
P.M.S.S. Co.'s Wharf Ñ see Folsom Street Wharf.
Pacific Wharf Ñ on Pacific (52, 54, 56, 59, 62); to Drum (52), from Front 1527 by 50 (54), 1130 by 50 (56). Commenced in April 1851. (54) Pope's Wharf Ñ from Stewart near Howard (56, 62); 237 by 45 (56).
Rand's Wharf Ñ from East between Clay and Central wharves (56, 62); 100 by 40 (56).
Rincon Dock Ñ from Stewart (62).
Rincon Point Dock Ñ opposite Rincon Point (56, 62); 150 by 150 (56).
Robison's Wharf Ñ from Clark between Jackson and Pacific (56, 62).
Roussett's Wharf Ñ from Stewart near Howard (54, 56, 62); from Stewart street Wharf E. 137 by 10 (54), 137 by 45 (56). Commenced in June 1853 (54).
Ryan & Duff's Wharf Ñ next south of Roussett's Wharf, corner of Mission and Stewart (54); 137 by 6 on Mission, 92 on East, and 92 on Stewart (54).
Sacramento Street Wharf Ñ on Sacramento (52, 54); from Davis 800 by 33 (54). Commenced in March 1852 (54).
San Francisco Wharf Ñ from Market, south side, east of Stewart (54).
Shaw's Wharf Ñ See Cowell's Wharf.
Smith's Wharf Ñ from Stewart, corner of Howard (56, 62); 147 by 46 (56).
Stewart Wharf Ñ from Market street Wharf S.E. 1182 to line of Howard street (54).
Vallejo Street Wharf Ñ on Vallejo (54, 56, 59, 62); from Front 1000 by 70 (54, 56), with an L opening on main wharf N. 350 by 50 (54). Commenced in June 1853 (54).
Vigoureau's Wharf Ñ from Market south, near California and Market (54).
Washington Street Wharf Ñ on Washington (56, 62); from Davis 1300 by 50 (54), East 600 by 50 (56). Commenced October 1853 (54).
Whipple's Wharf Ñ from Drumm, between Sacramento and California street wharves (54).

A good map showing locations of wharfs and dead/buried ships at the bottom of this page (be sure to enlarge it to view)

-- strange (stranger@yahoo.com), August 04, 2004.


If you have access to microfilm of the daily newspapers of the time, they had "shipping news" columns that listed east ship that arrived that day, where, and sometimes what it's cargo was.

-- (jblral@yahoo.com), August 16, 2004.

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