Foundation Document Appendixes

Importance

• Significance Statement 1: National Historic Landmark Vessels

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The general condition of the historic ships is fair
• The historic ships are floating resources. They are unstable objects undergoing constant deterioration due to the marine environment. These key resources cannot be mothballed until funding is available
• The gangways need constant repair because the tides are getting higher. These higher tide events have been occurring 3–4 times a year in the last several years
• Hyde Street Pier is insufficiently designed to sustain the mooring of large ships in the long term.
• Salinity, temperature, and clarity have changed in Aquatic Park Cove. The effects on the ships are manifold, but the key impact is in changing or increased presence of marine worms and crustaceans that bore into and eat wood
• Ships are generally not accessible to individuals with disabilities
• The condition of the large ship moorings is not known
• Activities on the bay are strictly regulated. Up until relatively recently, marine construction and ship repair work took place with only limited oversight and control. Today, activities that could impact the marine environment are closely monitored and controlled. In the past, ships were maintained continually with repairing, scraping, sanding, painting, and oiling—all while afloat, sailing, or in the harbor. The park can no longer bring traditional coatings to surfaces that are prepared in situ. Therefore, today’s marine preservationists are left no other choice than to devise costly alternative methods and find less toxic (and less effective) materials to replace the originals. Where alternatives do not exist, the park has no choice but to lengthen the intervals between important treatments and repairs until the ships can be moved to an industrial facility that has the capacity and technology to control the waste stream

Trends

• The park’s capacity to provide adequate maintenance is insufficient
• Local maritime industry contractors and facilities are diminishing (shipyard availability and specialized maritime trades)
• Evolving environmental controls prevent traditional maintenance of the ships at Hyde Street Pier
• First effects of climate change being felt – the mooring of sensitive resources (ships and boats) is becoming more challenging due to higher tides and weather-related events impacting moorings
• Loss of industrial knowledge of traditional skills and loss of natural resources may prevent future restoration. All of the ships in the fleet have elements of their construction that require the use of rare natural materials. The wooden ships were originally constructed from pieces of wood that are full length and materially perfect. Obtaining a 100-foot-long piece of wood with few knots and tight, waterproof grain requires felling old growth timbers Some timbers in the ships are so large that they are unobtainable. Planking, framing, and masts all require the rarest of materials, which may be morally, as well as practically, proscribed

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• If the park cannot sufficiently maintain the ships, they will structurally decay or will be demolished. The park has already lost one national historic landmark ship; loss of another would constitute an impairment of park resources
• Climate change has the potential to damage the ships with increasingly violent waves and surge from storms. Sea level rise and extreme tides may make Aquatic Park Cove inhospitable to the mooring of the fleet and render the Hyde Street Pier structurally incapable of holding the ships in place
• How the ships are used can threaten them. The park encourages interpretive and educational programs on the ships that can result in damage to the ships. Because the park lacks facilities, they are used as offices and storage
• Lack of funding impacts the park’s ability to restore and maintain ships
• Species not previously present in the Bay are now possibly on the way or here. Marine borers can eat large areas of wood leaving only a skeletal pattern of inedible fiber behind. This can lead to loss of structure such that leaking or structural collapse can occur

Opportunities

• Partnerships could help provide funding and other resources for the restoration and maintenance of the ships
• Alma use provides some funding and raises awareness about the park
• Restoring some live steam engines for operation and interpretation
• C. A. Thayer will soon be capable of sail and could be used to raise awareness of and interest in the park

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Historic structure reports; Balclutha historic structure report is about to be updated
• Facility Management Software System and 5-year project cycle in place; 20-year cycle for haul-outs
• Ship preservationists use park artifacts and historic reference materials that describe original means and methods to inform preservation and restoration plans

Planning Needs

• Business plan update
• Historic furnishings plans for historic vessels
• Hyde Street Pier development concept plan
• Preservation plan for the national historic landmark ships
• Climate change scenario planning

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Historic structure report for Alma
• Historic structure report for Balclutha (underway)
• Historic structure report for C. A. Thayer
• Historic structure report for Eureka
• Historic structure report for Hercules (update)
• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts on the historic fleet, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region

Importance

Related Significance Statements

• Significance Statement 1: National Historic Landmark Vessels
• Significance Statement 4: Traditional and Contemporary Maritime Skills

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The park hires employees who have unique skills and trains and mentors employees in maritime skills that are specific to historic vessels and small craft
• Volunteers work with staff on projects both bringing their expertise and also learning new skills Three such projects of note are the work of the small boat shop, sailing Alma, and restoring the Hercules to working order
• The Alma sails for the public have a participatory component where visitors help raise and lower the sails
• The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association runs a boat building trade class for a local high school
• Visitors can view preservation work being completed on the vessels and in the boat shop and shipwright shop
• Interpreters conduct demonstrations for the public to show them skills such as caulking or going aloft and maritime traditions such as Sea Music or a Dead Horse Ceremony
• Presently, maritime skills training is accomplished by pairing students, volunteers, and new staff with a knowledgeable and skilled veteran staff person

Trends

• The park is promoting projects and classes to the public through Facebook and other social media to raise interest and encourage maritime skills of traditional boatbuilding in the community

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Since historic seamanship skills are rare, there may not be qualified applicants for park positions
• Commercial shipbuilding and repair in the bay is on the decline with two yards remaining, and as a result, there is a lack of expertise in restoring historic vessels

Opportunities

• Have more interpretive signs to explain historic work and historic objects, such as spars on the pier
• Schedule more formal presentations to showcase staff and the work they are doing
• Film park staff conducting skills for use on Facebook or other social media
• Promote ambassadorial cruises with staff to bay area waterfront venues with the historic vessels in the collection
• Develop a maritime skills training center with the use of the collection as training aids
• When skilled employees move on or retire, succession planning is important
• Work with partners, such as the Council of American Maritime Museums, to contribute information to studies relating to lost skills in the maritime museum field

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• None identified

Planning Needs

• Workforce management plan / position management plan (including succession planning)

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Administrative history (underway)

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq)
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”
• NPS Management Policies 2006 (§ 2 3 1 4) “Science and Scholarship”
• NPS Management Policies 2006 (§ 4 2) “Studies and Collections”
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation

Importance

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The promenade is in poor condition
• The cultural landscape is in fair condition
• The Sea Scout base is in fair condition
• The Municipal Pier is in poor condition
• The cove and beach are in good condition
• The bleachers that are used as a viewing stand have been restored and are in good condition • Van Ness Avenue is in fair condition
• Jefferson Street is in fair condition
• Scenic views are sometimes obscured by pollution-caused haze

Trends

• Visitation to the park is increasing
• Bicycle traffic is increasing along the promenade
• The use of Aquatic Park by the homeless is increasing, and issues and concerns related to that use are addressed by United States Park Police
• Events in the park, such as marathons, races, holiday events, are increasing
• The Argonaut Hotel is a leading hotel along the waterfront and is generally fully booked and is a favorite hotel of city tourists
• The water in the cove is experiencing water quality issues (which are being investigated)
• On warm summer days, the beach is heavily used by swimmers and sunbathers
• The park is working more with local partners: the San Francisco Senior Center and the Dolphin and South End Swimming and Rowing Clubs (swim clubs) to promote the park mission and protect resources
• California air pollution emissions have declined since 2000 Between 2000 and 2020, mobile source (e g , vehicles, equipment) emissions are projected to be reduced by more than 50% Stationary sources (e g , power plants, incinerators) are also projected to decline Overall between 2000 and 2020, air pollution emissions are scheduled to decline almost 40%, which will also improve air quality conditions in the park

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Recent testing of water in Aquatic Parks indicate moderate levels of coliforms, raising concerns for officials, and the source for these coliforms is being investigated
• Soil testing, performed in conjunction with a project to repair the promenade, has revealed the presence of hazardous material below the surface, possibly due to the historic use of earthquake rubble as landfill
• The trend of increasing bicyclists is creating visitor use conflicts, as well as changes in experience of park visitors
• The potential for sea level rise and increase in storm frequency/intensity could adversely impact adjacent structures
• The current drought situation creates fire hazards within the park
• The increasing rate of deterioration of the Municipal Pier could escalate to a point at which the park will prevent use due to risk of collapse
• Homeless presence in the park may make some visitors uncomfortable, and can conflict with recreational uses
• As an urban park, criminal activity is a common occurrence Vandalism, facility damage, and theft have all been documented
• Cars parked on Van Ness Avenue have a history of being broken into during the day and more often after hours
• When constructed, the route of the F-line will impact the bocce courts, Van Ness Avenue, and circulation patterns within the park
• City operations – many city departments/employees do not realize that Aquatic Park was deeded to the National Park Service in 1980 and still believe they have jurisdiction This leads to conflicts around Van Ness Avenue in particular The city permits events on Beach Street that have the potential to impact the use and protection of the Museum Building
• City planning efforts (i e , signage, public restrooms, configuration of streets), transportation initiatives (i e , bus routes along Van Ness Avenue, historic streetcar extension), and allocations of city resources in the surrounding neighborhood (i e , decisions about the number of police officers assigned to Central Station) could increase stress on park areas (and visitors) and create new management challenges

Opportunities

• Restoration of the Municipal Pier may allow for a related business venture
• The cove offers business ventures that both the park and public would benefit from
• Restoration of the promenade will provide safe passage and improve the visitor experience
• Opportunities exist for increased partnerships with the swim clubs and seniors related to recreation and Healthy Parks Healthy People
• Opportunities exist for interpreting the grounds in different ways
• Opportunities exist for interpreting the viewsheds (sunrise, sunsets)
• Maintain and update as required a formal agreement with Sea Scouts
• Improve park sustainability and environmental leadership through park Climate Friendly Park certification including an environmental management system (Director’s Order 13A)
• Expand interpretative and educational tools to communicate the connections between waterfront recreation, scenic views, climate change, air quality/pollution, park resources at risk, human health, and other associated resources

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Aquatic Park cultural landscape report
• Structural condition assessment of the Municipal Pier
• Title II design for the promenade rehabilitation
• National historic landmark nominations
• Determination of eligibility for Victorian Park
• State historic preservation office programmatic agreement underway
• F-line environmental impact statement
• Ongoing regional air quality monitoring for visibility, ozone, and atmospheric deposition (conducted by other agencies, such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District)

Planning Needs

• Van Ness Avenue corridor development concept plan
• Cove management plan
• Climate change scenario planning

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Aquatic Park cultural landscape inventory (update)
• Aquatic Park national historic landmark / national register update
• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts on the historic fleet, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region
• Research and write a determination of eligibility for Sea Scout base (underway)
• Aquatic Park Historic District circulation study (underway)
• Visitor surveys

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards 2006
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act
• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”
• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq)
• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)
• “Leasing of Properties in Park Areas” (36 CFR 18)
• Clean Air Act of 1977 (42 USC 7401 et seq)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10)
• Director’s Order 6: Interpretation and Education
• Director’s Order 42: Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities in National Park Service Programs and Services
• NPS Transportation Planning Guidebook
• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• Director’s Order 89: Acquisition and Management of Leased Space
• Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) GSAM, GSAR 57 Leasing

Importance

Related Significance Statements

• Significance Statement 5: Aquatic Park National Historic Landmark

Current Conditions and Trends

Condition

• Building shell is in good condition
• Second floor artwork has been restored, except for Nunemaker mural, but that is in pretty good condition
• Third floor artwork restoration is funded in 2015
• Heating and ventilation has been upgraded
• Exhibits are installed; more exhibits are planned for the future
• The building is used for events
• Events provide some funding for building preservation and maintenance
• A museum use policy is underway, to be in place by summer 2015 to protect the artwork and exhibits during events
• Senior Center uses the lower portion of the building and the Blue Room
• Elevator allows access to third floor

Trends

• Facility rental has increased since exhibits were removed from the third floor in 2006 for the rehabilitation
• Senior Center special events are increasing
• There is interest in visiting exhibits from outside entities
• There is strong interest from the public for maritime exhibits in the building
• Fountain and entrance ramp project should be funded in 2017

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Some events do not seem suited for the building and have caused damage
• Damage to artwork
• Preservation maintenance is not adequate (tiles, grout, painting schedule, window maintenance, etc )
• There is no preservation maintenance plan, nor ongoing regular maintenance program for the building
• Damage to new terra cotta tiles on terraces from event use
• Lack of a robust exhibit plan
• The front of the building on Beach Street gives the impression that the building is not active
• Visitation to building is low
• Many programs and events in building are not relevant to park purpose
• Climate change − sea level rise and increased storm surge can send water into the ground floor spaces of the building The resulting humidity could impact artwork and artifacts located on upper floors
• Proposed F-line project to go down Beach Street will increase noise, vibrations, and safety issues for visitors
• Evacuation plans are not posted
• Electrical system is outdated and not sufficient for current needs
• The sidewalk along Beach Street is in need of repair, and the terrazzo portion directly in front of the building is not Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant due to the ground sinking, from a city sewer issue under the street
• As an urban park, criminal activity, including vandalism, is a common occurrence

Opportunities

• Increase and rotate exhibits
• New, interesting exhibits and programs can draw new audiences and increase interest in the park as a whole
• Make sure needed preservation maintenance tasks are adequately represented in the Facility Management Software System
• New and improved partnerships for programs and exhibits
• New business opportunities, such as a pop-up museum store, new tenants, new concession opportunities
• Opportunities for fundraising through special park uses permitted events
• Expanded programs for schools or the general public (lectures, interpretive programs)
• Provide interpretation of the building For instance, a 10-minute documentary on the artwork is in the planning stages
• Gather the historic structure report information into one document and add new sections:
  • art and artists
  • systems (electricity, heating, plumbing, etc)
  • anything else

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Portions of historic structure report for Museum Building: accessibility, amphitheater, windows, roofs, and doors
• History portion of the historic structure report by Jim Delgado
• Cultural landscape report for Aquatic Park
• Extensive information on the artists
• WPA photos of building construction in collection
• Structural fire management plan
• Environmental monitoring for resource protection in the Museum Building (ongoing)

Planning Needs

• Museum Building plan
• Museum Building use plan (underway – best practices, etc , for event use to avoid damage)
• Exhibit plan for Museum Building
• Business plan (update)
• Update national historic landmark nomination
• Climate change scenario planning for Aquatic Park

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Comprehensive investigation and documentation of existing electrical and plumbing systems
• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts on resources, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq)
• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974
• Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955 (16 USC 18f through 18f-3)
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)
• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”
• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards 2006
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act
• Enabling legislation, Public Law 100-348, June 27, 1988: An Act to establish the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park; 2(d) Museum Building – “the building housing and displaying the marine collections shall be named the “Sala Burton Building” and an appropriate plaque with this designation shall be prominently displayed as part of the structure.”
• Public Law 105, Section 418
• “Permits” (36 CFR 1 6)
• “Business Operations” (36 CFR 5 3)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”
• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III
• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation
• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10)
• Director’s Order 6: Interpretation and Education
• Director’s Order 42: Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities in National Park Service Programs and Services
• NPS Transportation Planning Guidebook
• Special Directive 95-10, “Change of Commercial Use, Incidental Business Permits”

Importance

Related Significance Statements

• Significance Statement 2: Oldest and Largest Maritime Collection on the West Coast

Current Conditions and Trends

• The Maritime Research Center is the formal gateway to access the collections
• One of the largest maritime resources in the United States
• Reference requests average around 100 a month.

Trends

• Significant increase in research inquiries and workload
• Increased demand for digitized material
• More people requesting information via email and telephone
• Increased presence on social media
• Younger demographic users due to presence on social media and “Googleable” search results
• Increased prices for acquisitions outpacing funding increases
• Requests for digitized images from photograph collections provide modest funding to care for the collection through a cost recovery program
• Decreased workforce from the loss of two library staff who have not been replaced

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Heavier workloads due to decreased staff
• Loss of institutional memory of staff who are retiring
• Perceived irrelevance of maritime history to the general public
• Large collections, which are not well described, making them invisible to researchers
• No adequate method for public or staff to search collections
• Insufficient and cumbersome technical infrastructure for digitized collections
• Lack of digital online access to photo collections

Opportunities

• Host public programs, lectures, and events in Research Center
• Increase cross-divisional park collaboration
• Identify new park partners who can bring new and diverse audiences to the Research Center
• Identify funding opportunities to improve collection access
• Create a publicly accessible, searchable catalog for the collections (outside of the DOI required Interior Collections Management System)

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Scope of collections statement
• Library collection development policy

Planning Needs

• Scope of collections statement (update)

Data and/or GIS Needs

• None identified

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq )
• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974
• Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955, as amended
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections” (36 CFR 79)
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (§2 3 1 4, 4 2, 5 1, 8 10, 1 6, 4 1, 4 1 4, 4 4 1, 4 7 2)
• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• Director’s Order 28A: Archeology
• Director’s Order 77-2: Floodplain Management
• Director’s Order 84: Library Management
• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III
• NPS-75 Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline
• NPS Natural Resource Management Reference Manual 77

Importance

Related Significance Statements

• Significance Statement 1: National Historic Landmark Vessels
• Significance Statement 2: Oldest and Largest Maritime Collection
• Significance Statement 3: First Major West Coast Seaport
• Significance Statement 4: Traditional and Contemporary Maritime Skills

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• The park uses a variety of online resources to inform the public, including social media (Twitter, Facebook YouTube), a blog, and educational pages on the park website
• The park offers a variety of ranger and partner led programs, including living history, tours and demonstrations, sea chanty sings, exhibits and waysides, and personal demonstrations
• The park offers award winning exhibits on the ships and pier and in the visitor center Museum Building needs further evaluation for planning exhibits
• The park and the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association conduct a variety of youth and education programs, including summer camp
• The park hosts special events that help tell the park story, though more could be done to make certain large events, such as 4th of July, into educational experiences
• The park is working with a contractor to create standardized education programs that are learner centered and cover Common Core and California state education curriculum standards

Trends

• The park is using social media now more than ever to reach more people

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Limited staff and funding to develop and operate museum programs
• Limited staff and funding for exhibits
• A population uninterested in maritime history

Opportunities

• Use marketing to target more diverse and local stakeholders to attend programs and events
• The park is in the process of developing an accessibility transition plan; improvements are needed to reach more audiences
• Expand partners, especially diverse groups
• Expand Volunteers In Parks for programming and outreach
• Develop cross-divisional youth intern program for park
• Partner more with Golden Gate National Recreation Area and other Bay Area parks
• Possibly partner with other institutions about museum use and exhibits
• Increase accessibility of current exhibits and programs about heritage
• Spread awareness of the park through digital means, media, and other public relations – more promotion of park opportunities and programs
• Create better bonds with current maritime industry and corporations to provide relevant history and heritage
• The museum could be used for additional accessible exhibits on heritage
• Use interactive technology to reach a new generation (apps, web, and on-site)
• Add additional interactive displays on Hyde Street Pier regarding maritime skills
• Find ways to engage Aquatic Park visitors in history and heritage

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Long-range interpretive plan (outdated, 2005)
• Visitor study (outdated, 2005)
• General management plan (outdated, 1997)

Planning Needs

• Museum Building plan
• Hyde Street Pier development concept plan
• Historic furnishings plans for historic vessels
• Communications plan
• Long-range interpretive plan (update)

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Visitor surveys

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards 2006
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10)
• Director’s Order 6: Interpretation and Education
• Director’s Order 42: Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities in National Park Service Programs and Services

Importance

Related Significance Statements

• Significance Statement 1: National Historic Landmark Vessels
• Significance Statement 5: Aquatic Park National Historic Landmark

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• Dockside ships are available to the public (for a fee)
• The Alma offers seasonal public interpretive sails, and sails as part of the “Explorers” youth education program
• People can see ships on the water from the pier
• People can hear the sounds of water, wildlife, and maritime activities
• Grace Quan is displayed at China Camp for part of the year
• Alma and Grace Quan and other small craft visit Bay communities as park ambassadors – essentially taking the park to the people
• The park partners with the Crissy Field Center and San Francisco State University to provide summer kayaking in the cove
• Events (park, partner, and special park use events) get people on the ships, dockside
• A selection of historic small craft, berthed at a small finger pier, are interpreted from Hyde Street Pier by waysides and during ranger tours
• Downtown High School Boat Building classes include sail training and boat launching ceremonies at the pier
• Ten thousand school children experience an overnight on the water through the Age of Sail program on Balclutha

Trends

• Hercules is in process of steaming dockside
• Online ticketing for Alma (recreation gov) raised the attendance on sails
• Eva B is newly restored and will be motoring on the bay soon

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Climate change / increase in sea level, along with increases in storm frequency/intensity projected for the region due to climate change, could eventually render berthing facilities unusable
• Exposure to a marine environment necessitates ongoing maintenance
• Limited staffing to oversee on the water programs
• Overuse of the historic ships for programs can lead to consumptive use

Opportunities

• The park could be more closely involved with the Bay Water Trail
• Expanding cooperation with Sea Scouts, swimming and rowing clubs
• Could have additional trips with the ships sailing to other sites, taking the park to other underserved neighborhoods around the San Francisco Bay
• Maintaining conditions of the ships, safety
• Staffing for more sails or longer trips with boats/ships
• Sponsors or donors for ships or ship program
• Greater park participation in public boating events (regattas, etc ) would raise park / NPS visibility
• Develop operation policies for small craft on Aquatic Cove (including consumptive use permits)

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• 2015 Alma sailing schedule

Planning Needs

• Climate change scenario planning
• Preservation plan for the national historic landmark ships

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts on the historic fleet, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region
• Climate change vulnerability assessment for select park infrastructure (e g , berthing facilities)
• Historic structure reports for national historic landmark ships
• Visitor surveys

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards 2006
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• National Park Service Concessions Management Improvement Act
• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10)
• Director’s Order 6: Interpretation and Education
• Director’s Order 42: Accessibility for Visitors with Disabilities in National Park Service Programs and Services
• Director’s Order 47: Soundscape Preservation and Noise Management
• NPS Transportation Planning Guidebook

Importance

• Significance Statement 2: Oldest and Largest Maritime Collection

Current Conditions and Trends

Conditions

• Artifact collections are stable and adequately housed in appropriate storage facilities with proper security and levels of accessibility Archival collections are mixed with nonmuseum library items and lack proper storage and work space.
• Due to use in a marine environment, many objects have rust and have conservation challenges.
• A proportion of collections are on exhibit in multiple venues throughout the park, including the Maritime Museum, visitor center, Maritime Research Center, and the historic ships.
• The park regularly receives requests from other museums to borrow objects for exhibit, making collections available to a wider audience outside of the park
• There is a large backlog of items to be cataloged
• A number of inappropriately accessioned items (nonhistoric furnishings) need to be deaccessioned
• An active acquisitions committee evaluates new acquisitions, deaccessions items, and deals with other collection issues
• Professional and knowledgeable staff care for the collections
• Large artifacts on exhibit, such as the small craft and donkey boiler, need continued conservation and use in order to keep them in good condition
• The park recently secured a new and improved collections storage facility for macroartifacts
• Current Project Management Information System statements are in the system for expanded compact shelving and cataloging of collections backlog

Trends

• The collections continue to grow
• Collections staff continue to post finding aids about collections to the Online Archive of California and the Online Computer Library Center, which makes the collections more discoverable to the public
• Collections staff continue to digitize items in the collection
• An image gallery featuring items from the collections has been created on Flickr
• The park continues to receive interest from other organizations to collaborate on collections
• Requests to view object collections are increasing
• Park resource management records continue to grow and require dedicated processing
  and cataloging
• There is continued progress toward cataloging the collection
• There are challenges with electronic records preservation of digital materials
• There is an insufficient number of staff to care for a collection of this size, scope, and use
• The practice of park staff collecting oral histories of individuals in the maritime field
  has ceased

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Lack of space to sufficiently store archival collections
• Building E, which houses portions of the collections, is located in an earthquake-prone location and needs a seismic upgrade
• A formal museum program has not been implemented at the park
• The backlog of uncatalogued collections makes materials inaccessible
• There is a lack of a formal records management program and staff, which impacts the archival collection of resource management records pertaining to the park
• Items exhibited on vessels (marine environment) have no environmental controls
• Collection materials in obsolete formats are in need of migration
• Only a very small percentage of collections are on exhibit
• The off-site collections facility is currently inaccessible to the public
• Retirement of employees with great subject matter expertise and/or long-term experience with the collections is imminent
• As the collections age, new preservation challenges will emerge

Opportunities

• Develop support for collections through park partners
• Exhibit collections in the Museum Building
• Establish a formal museum program
• Incorporate suggestions from the NPS Teaching with Museum Collections plan
• Further collaboration with the park’s Interpretive Division, incorporating collections into programs or developing programs based on collections
• Further collaboration with the park’s Ship Division in utilizing the collections to inform preservation decisions
• Increase information about collections on park website
• Use social media to share collections
• Resume public tours at off-site collections storage warehouse
• Museum re-accreditation by the Alliance of American Museums

Existing Data and Plans Related to the FRV

• Scope of collections statement
• Housekeeping plan
• Museum acquisition committee role and function statement

Planning Needs

• Collections storage plan (update)
• Exhibit plan for Museum Building
• Collections management plan
• Museum Building plan
• Long-range interpretive plan (update)
• Scope of collections statement (update)
• Collections emergency operation plan

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Document small craft collection (underway)

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the FRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq )
• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974
• Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979
• American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (PL 95-341)
• Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955, as amended
• Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990
• Endangered Species Act of 1973
• Lacey Act, as amended
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections” (36 CFR 79)
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (§2 3 1 4, 4 2, 5 1, 8 10, 1 6, 4 1, 4 1 4, 4 4 1, 4 7 2)
• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• Director’s Order 28A: Archeology
• Director’s Order 77-2: Floodplain Management
• Director’s Order 84: Library Management
• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III
• NPS-75 Natural Resources Inventory and Monitoring Guideline
• NPS Natural Resource Management Reference Manual 77

Importance

Current Conditions and Trends

Condition

• Lewis Ark is getting a new roof in spring 2015. Some additional wood repair is needed on the structure It was modified in the 1950s when moved on land It is not accessible
• Eppleton Hall is missing part of her superstructure She had needed dry-dock work in 2013, but more is needed. She is in fair condition. She is not open to the public.
• The Sea Fox wheelhouse is in need of preservation work; there is considerable rot in the decking
• The Tubbs Cordage Office Building needs repairs to windows and trim and paint. It is used as a park office building

Trends

• The Lewis Ark is getting attention. The contents of the Ark were recently deaccessioned
  from the museum collection and given to the interpretation division to maintain as part of
  the exhibit
• The Lewis Ark is used by the Living History program
• The Sea Fox wheelhouse houses the Age of Sail program run by the San Francisco Maritime Park Association under a consumptive use permit, and will remain in this use until better space is provided
• The Tubbs Cordage Office Building will remain an office building until better space is provided for staff

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• The Lewis Ark competes for staff time and dollars with the national historic landmark ships
• The Eppleton Hall is not in the national register and just gets the bare minimum care to keep it afloat
• The Sea Fox wheelhouse is a collection item and falls to the cultural resources division for repairs and conservation. The cultural resources division does not have sufficient staff or funding to work on it
• The Tubbs Cordage Office Building is on a cyclic maintenance schedule for paint and roofing but needs rehabilitation work that is not funded
• Increases in sea level, along with increases in storm frequency/intensity projected for the region due to climate change threaten historic structures along the waterfront
• As an urban park, criminal activity is a common occurrence. Vandalism, facility damage,
  and theft have all been documented

Opportunities

• Lewis Ark work could be done as part of a preservation training program
• Eppleton Hall may have local significance for its association with Karl Kortum and other museum founders who rehabilitated it and steamed it from England in 1970. A volunteer group might be created
• The work needed on the Tubbs Cordage Office Building would be perfect for a preservation training program such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Hands on Preservation Experience program
• Park lease funding can be used to supplement cyclic and repair/rehab funding on some of these projects
• If a new building can be built for the ships’ staff, the Tubbs Cordage Office Building can be opened to the public. The Tubbs Cordage Office Building could be used to tell the Tubb Cordage Company’s story
• The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association could be asked to come up with some funding to undertake work on the Sea Fox
• The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association could fund raise to provide better
  space on the pier for their programs as well as park programs

Existing Data and Plans Related to the OIRV

• National register nominations for the Tubbs Cordage Office Building and Lewis Ark
• Book, The Eppleton Hall, by Scott Newhall
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park historic resources study
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park administrative history (draft)
• Tubbs Cordage Office Building items in the museum collection
• Sea Fox wheelhouse consumptive use permit

Planning Needs

• Historic structure report for the Lewis Ark
• National register nominations need to be updated
• Plans to restore the Lewis Ark to her houseboat days and make her accessible
• Evaluate significance of the tugboat Eppleton Hall
• Determination of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places for Hyde Street Pier (underway)
• Hyde Street Pier development concept plan
• Tubbs Cordage Office Building exhibit plan
• Climate change scenario planning

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts on resources, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region
• Climate change vulnerability assessment for select historic structures along the
  waterfront

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the OIRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the OIRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq )
• Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974
• Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards 2006
• Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955 (16 USC 18f through 18f-3)
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)
• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”
• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III
• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic
  Preservation
• The Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects
• Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards

Importance

Current Conditions and Trends

Condition

• The Argonaut Hotel was created through a 57-year historic lease of the Haslett Warehouse Building
• The approximately 270-room hotel is in good condition and is maintained well by the operator, Kimpton Hotels
• Kimpton continually updates furnishings and soft goods in the hotel to ensure high quality boutique style hotel services
• The Argonaut Hotel is one of the leading hotels in San Francisco
• Kimpton recently completed the configuration of storage rooms on the first floor of the hotel into restrooms These restrooms will serve the maritime conference room and are intended to create more rental opportunities for the conference room
• In 2012 the outside patio to the Blue Mermaid was updated with gas heaters to improve comfort for outside dining
• The sublease space occupied by Starbucks is tentatively scheduled to be leased to See’s Candies
• The park visitor center is in the Haslett Warehouse building adjacent to the hotel. The space for the visitor center was reserved when the hotel was planned and constructed
• The first phase of the visitor center build-out occurred as the hotel was being constructed. The second phase of the visitor center, portraying a walk along Fisherman’s Wharf in time, was completed in 2013
• Video shown on the hotel’s channel in all rooms highlights a past park superintendent and past projects – needs updating
• The visitor center only sees a fraction of the visitors who visit Hyde Street Pier
• The Fresnel lens in the visitor center does not rotate because visitors continued to touch it. Better barriers are needed to protect the lens and so the park can allow it to rotate
• A small gallery space in the northwest corner of the visitor center is used for changing exhibits
• A former store area is now used as the Pacific West Information Center

Trends

• The Argonaut Hotel has been a leading boutique hotel in San Francisco and has been rated one of the most desirable places to stay in San Francisco. The hotel is generally fully booked, even in low season
• The Argonaut continues to update the facility as needed to meet current and future demands
• The recent Waterfront Exhibit (opened in January 2012) has generated a lot of positive press
• Visitation to the visitor center increased by nearly 25% in 2014

Threats and Opportunities

Threats

• Impacts on the historic fabric of the Haslett Warehouse are occurring despite best practices being observed The annual preservation report completed each year notes findings and recommends actions to be taken to prevent impacts on the historic fabric. Changes in the building’s façade could diminish its ability to demonstrate the industrial nature of the San Francisco waterfront
• Gang tagging is a problem all along the waterfront and impacts the hotel and visitor center from time to time
• The recent improvements to Jefferson Street have created a narrow passenger loading and unloading zone at the hotel and visitor center entrances
• The visitor center theater projector does not work, so the theater cannot be used to show NPS films
• Visitors touching exhibits, such as the Fresnel lens, and creating damage
• Change in the building’s use from a warehouse to a boutique hotel could make it more difficult to interpret the economic and social connections between maritime commerce and landside development
• Increase in sea level (+1 35 to 1 75 feet by 2100), along with increases in storm frequency/intensity projected for the region due to climate change may threaten the Haslett Warehouse over time

Opportunities

• Update the park film delivered in the rooms and in the lobby with current superintendent and highlighting current projects and status of resources
• Sustainability opportunities, such as photovoltaics and additional low energy devices, may be implemented within the hotel and visitor center
• Repair the theater projection system to show NPS and related films
• Additional changing exhibits in the northwest gallery
• Working with other parks to make the Pacific West Information Center more interesting/active
• Interpret how significant access to on-water shipping was to the growth of San Francisco industry and how the proximity to shipping shaped the development of neighborhoods (industrial, not residential) and their architecture (big brick warehouses, not Painted Ladies)

Existing Data and Plans Related to the OIRV

• Haslett Warehouse historic structure report
• Haslett Warehouse preservation plan
• Haslett Warehouse / Argonaut Hotel rehabilitation plans

Planning Needs

• Continued understanding of observed and projected climate change through monitoring of (or access to) weather parameters (precipitation, temperature, storm events), sea level rise and impacts to the historic fleet, and assessment of projected climate futures (models) for the region

Data and/or GIS Needs

• Climate change vulnerability assessment for the Haslett Warehouse

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the OIRV, and NPS Policy-level Guidance

Laws, Executive Orders, and Regulations That Apply to the OIRV

• National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (54 USC §300101 et seq )
• Management of Museum Properties Act of 1955 (16 USC 18f through 18f-3)
• Executive Order 11593, “Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment”
• “Protection of Historic Properties” (36 CFR 800)
• Secretarial Order 3289, “Addressing the Impacts of Climate Change on America’s Water, Land, and Other Natural and Cultural Resources”
• “Leasing of Properties in Park Areas” (36 CFR 18)
• Federal Acquisition Regulations GSAM and GSAR 57 Related to Leasing

NPS Policy-level Guidance (NPS Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Orders)

• NPS Management Policies 2006 (chapter 5) “Cultural Resource Management”
• Director’s Order 24: NPS Museum Collections Management
• Director’s Order 28: Cultural Resource Management
• NPS Museum Handbook, parts I, II, and III
• The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic
  Preservation
• Director’s Order 89: Acquisition and Management of Leased Space