Aquatic Park Historic District and Maritime Museum

The Aquatic Park Historic District includes the Maritime Museum in the Aquatic Park Bathhouse building, a beach, cove, and a municipal pier. Now located within the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Aquatic Park was built from 1936 to 1939 as part of one of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects during the Great Depression. Artists specializing in painting and tile work were employed. The Historic District became a National Register of Historic Places listing in 1984 and a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Today, people visit Aquatic Park to view over 75 years of history and art. The Maritime Museum was founded in 1951 and is open on Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to 4pm; there is no admission fee.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was established in 1935 by President Roosevelt as one of the programs under the New Deal. The New Deal was created to rehabilitate the nation's economy after the Great Depression. The mission of the WPA was to employ American's who were out of work. Those who found employment through the WPA, over 8.5 million people, were paid an average salary of about $41.75 a month to build bridges, roads, public buildings, parks, monuments, airports, etc. Artists, writers, musicians, and those involved in theater were also supported by the WPA and were employed to incorporate more culture into American society. The program was canceled in 1943, but not before spending eleven million dollars in employment relief and greatly improving the American people's financial situations and attitudes.

Construction on the Aquatic Park Historic District began in 1936 and was one of California's largest WPA projects. It was built between 1936 and 1939 and included WPA artists and architects in its design process. At the center of Aquatic Park is the Bathhouse building designed in Streamline Moderne style (similar to Art Deco but with a focus on horizontal plane and movements seen in automobiles, planes, trains, and ships) with a maritime theme that reflected the structure of an ocean liner. The Bathhouse was given to the city, who leased the building to businessmen who opened it as the Aquatic Park Casino with a restaurant and bar. The building was taken over by the military in 1941 at the start of U.S. involvement in World War II. After seven years of troop occupation, the Bathhouse became home to the Maritime Museum and senior center in 1951. The museum displaying 1930s art was originally managed by the San Francisco Maritime Association until 1978 when the National Park Service took over operation. The museum is open daily to the public. 

In addition to the main Bathhouse building, the district also includes the Aquatic Park Cove, bleachers overlooking a sandy beach with a concrete seawall, lifeguard towers, and the horseshoe-shaped Municipal Pier. While the Aquatic Park Cove can be seen by visitors, it allows only non-motorized and sail/auxiliary boats to anchor (with an approved permit) and offers those who do anchor an incredible sight of San Francisco and the bay.

The Maritime Museum was closed in 2006 for several years for renovations to the Bathhouse, inside and out. Aquatic Park celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 22, 2014. The park regularly offers educational opportunities to those who would like to learn the history of the ships anchored at Hyde Street Pier. Those who visit the Aquatic Park Historic District are immersed in maritime history and can connect to San Francisco's history in a unique and dynamic way. 

Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Architectural Style Guide: Streamline Moderne (1930-1955). http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/styleguide/streamline.htm.

Delgado, James P. NRHP nomination, Aquatic Park Historic District, Foot of Hyde Street, Polk Street, and Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA. National Register of Historic Places. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 1984.

Jackson, Robbyn. Croteau, Todd et al. Historic American Buildings Survey, Addendum to Aquatic Park Bathhouse, San Francisco, CA. Historic American Buildings Survey. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 2014.

National Park Service. San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. http://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm.

National Park Service. Cultural Landscape Report, Aquatic Park, San Francisco Maritime, National Historical Park. San Francisco, CA. National Park Service, 2010.

Noe Hill. Register of Historic Places in San Francisco." http://noehill.com/sf/landmarks/nat1984001183.aspx

Nolte, Carl. San Francisco/ Maritime Museum makes library appointment only, SF Gate. September 15th, 2006. Accessed June 18th, 2025. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/san-francisco-maritime-museum-makes-library-2488743.php.

Shuttleworth, James. Portal To Great Maritime Collections, The Paul and Lynda Kahn Foundation, J. Porter Shaw Library: About. Accessed June 18th, 2025. https://www.kahnfoundation.org/j-porter-shaw-maritime-library/about-j-porter-shaw-libary/.

Works Progress Administration (WPA). American Experience-PBS. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/dustbowl-wpa/.