Berkeley

The Berkeley is a former ferryboat now preserved as a museum ship at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The vessel features multiple decks with exhibits on maritime history and displays the machinery that powered early 20th-century passenger travel.

The ship was built in 1898 and served as a ferry between Oakland and San Francisco for the Southern Pacific Railroad until 1958. After leaving active service, it was preserved and became a lasting record of early 20th-century transportation.

The ship carries the name of the city it once served, connecting travelers across the San Francisco Bay for decades. Today, visitors can see how ferries shaped daily life and commerce in the early 20th century.

The ship is accessible via a walkway from the Maritime Museum and allows visitors to explore the interior of the former ferry. Plan enough time to walk through the different decks and view exhibits, especially if you want to see the restored machinery in detail.

The ship was once one of the fastest ferries of its era and could carry hundreds of passengers simultaneously across the bay. Its steam-powered machinery represents an engineering achievement that few visitors fully appreciate when walking through the decks.

Location: San Diego

GPS coordinates: 32.71865,-117.17266

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03