The San Francisco Ferry Building is a unique and historical landmark that serves as a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay, a food hall, and an office building.
It was designed in 1892 by American architect A. Page Brown, and was completed in 1898. It is located on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California and is served by Golden Gate Ferry and San Francisco Bay Ferry routes. On top of the building is a 245–foot–tall clock tower with four clock dials.
The public spaces of the building have been broken up and renovated in 2002.
This renovation included restoring the 660–foot–long Great Nave, creating a marketplace on the ground floor, and adapting the second and third floors for office and Port Commission use.
This renovation created the Ferry Building Marketplace, which is home to many artisan food vendors, specialty shops, restaurants, and cafes. The marketplace is open from 10am–8pm every day and is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
The ferry building is a designated San Francisco landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a unique and beloved part of San Francisco and offers a unique experience to explore the past and present of the city.
From the views of the Bay to the artisan food vendors, the Ferry Building Marketplace is a great place to visit for both locals and tourists.
Ferry Building Marketplace History
The Ferry Building Marketplace has been a staple of San Francisco’s waterfront for more than a century. Located at the foot of Market Street on the western edge of the continent and center of the city’s financial, banking and transportation district, it served as the primary portal of the city from the Gold Rush until the 1930s.
The iconic clock tower has been a part of the San Francisco skyline for over 100 years, and during its heyday the Ferry Building was used by up to 50,000 people a day for commuting by ferry before the opening of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges.
In 1955 the Ferry Building was converted to office space and overshadowed by the Embarcadero Freeway until the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, when the freeway was destroyed and the Ferry Building was rediscovered.
In 2003, the Ferry Building underwent a major renovation and reopened to the public with a world–class public food market and ferry terminals at Larkspur, Sausalito, Vallejo, and Alameda.
Today the Ferry Building Marketplace is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. It offers a unique shopping, dining, and cultural experience along with sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay. The Ferry Building Marketplace has come a long way since its early days as the primary entry point for the city.
It has become an important part of the city’s culture and a symbol of San Francisco’s enduring spirit.
Ferry Building Marketplace Key Information
- Located on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California
- Served by Golden Gate Ferry and San Francisco Bay Ferry routes
- Designed in 1892 by American architect A. Page Brown in the Beaux–Arts style and completed in 1898
- 245–foot–tall clock tower with four clock dials
- Public spaces have been broken up and renovated in 2002
- 660–foot–long Great Nave restored, a marketplace created on the ground floor, and the second and third floors adapted for office and Port Commission use
- Designated San Francisco landmark
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
