San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, California Book

Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's top tourist destination, but its history is much richer and more important than today's quaint attractions suggest. Indeed, many of these well-known sights were developed only in the last few decades. The early wharf, originally known as Meigg's Wharf, was once the main port of entry to San Francisco and an extremely industrious place. Lumber, food, and immigrants all arrived here, and railroads came right to the water's edge to pick up building supplies for the rapidly growing city. Hardworking fishermen, both Chinese and Italian (who were often accompanied by their wives), set out to make a living by catching fish and crab in small vessels built at the wharf.

Author Alessandro Baccari, Jr., is the founder and president of the Fisherman's Wharf Historical Society, former chairman of the Mayor's Committee for the Preservation and Beautification of Fisherman's Wharf, and for 30 years was the executive secretary of the Fisherman's Wharf Merchants Association. He is also the president of the Fisherman's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel. Baccari presents here a stirring tale of tenacity in the face of adversity and a history of Fisherman's Wharf that is known to very few of its millions of visitors.