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THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO
Photo by Kerrick James
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As the gateway to the Pacific, San Francisco has an ideal position to reach markets on the Pacific Rim. A high percentage of exports are high-technology products and machinery which are bound for Japan, Canada, and Singapore. Leading imports include newsprint, coffee, and automobiles. Aside from shipping, San Francisco welcomes over 50 cruise ships per year. Additionally, the harbor maintains many ferries that transport commuters to various waterside communities.
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The Bay is also home to a large fishing fleet that catches local delicacies, like Dungeness crab, Chinook salmon, and Pacific herring. Bustling with a modern activities, it is easy to forget that this port evolved from the wild Barbary Coast days and served as major jumping off point for Pacific battles during World War II.
HISTORY
In 1769, a Spanish Expedition slipped into this great natural bay on a trek north from Mexico. By 1775, a mission had been built and the area was established as a territory of Mexico. In 1848, the state of California joined the United States of America. In that same year, the discovery of gold launched the Gold Rush which flooded the city with thousands of fortune seekers. Businesses sprang up to support the needs of this growing population.
One of these new businesses was Levi Strauss who made a fortune providing miners with blue jeans. Meanwhile plans were made to build a transcontinental railroad and the growth that followed changed this small town forever. Sadly, tragedy struck the city in 1906 when a major earthquake killed hundreds of people. Most of the city fell to ruin or was destroyed by the resulting fires. However, due to the determined spirit of this western town, San Francisco made a remarkable recovery. Today, the "City by the Bay" proudly boasts a skyline of growing commerce (business) and quaint Victorian style homes.
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As Frank Sinatra sings, it is easy to "leave your heart in San Francisco." The steep hills, quaint Victorian houses, and majestic views of the bay, entice you (make you want) to stay longer. There will be a special reluctance on the part of some of the crew as they once again leave friends and family behind. However, Pride II still has a long journey home to Maryland and lots of exciting places yet to visit. For starters, everyone is anxious (eager) to explore the "headquarters" of Hollywood - Los Angeles! Pride II is no new comer to the movies after her role in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad!" But more on this later. Hollywood, here we come!
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Photo by Kerrick James
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With "stars" in my eyes,"
Leslie Bridgett
YOUR THOUGHTS
- Pretend you are a news reporter. Use your imagination to write a short paragraph announcing the discovery of gold in 1848 or the tragedy of the 1906 earthquake.
- Many prisoners return to society after "serving their time." What activities do you think prisons should provide to prepare criminals to return to a life outside the prison?
- Draw a picture of a cable car.
- If you could choose where to build another bridge over Chesapeake Bay, where would it be and why?
- List the features of Fisherman's Wharf which attract tourists and residents to use the waterfront community.
- If you were to create an "American Village" in a section of city in China, what kinds of American foods, shops, buildings, and entertainment would you include?
- Click on several of the links to web sites provided in this log. Make two lists: 1) Interesting, and 2) Uninteresting. Classify (list) the features, such as pictures or topics, offered on these sites under your two headings.
- List the ways in which the port of San Franciso meets the needs of people.
- Using the formula, "Distance = Rate x Time," how far does Pride II travel in one full day (24 hours) if she sails at 8 miles per hour?
Return to the first part of the September 24, 1998 log.
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