Potrero Point, Industrial region in San Francisco, US
Potrero Point is an industrial region in San Francisco that extends into Mission Bay and features deep water access created through rock blasting of nearby cliffs. The flat terrain made it suitable for shipbuilding and heavy manufacturing operations.
The area took shape in the 1840s when Peter Donahue established a major iron works and shipbuilding operation. It became the region's leading industrial center during the World Wars, when wartime demand drove expansion and employment.
This area grew from grazing land into a manufacturing center that shaped San Francisco's working identity. Visitors can still sense this industrial past in the buildings and structures that remain.
The area connects to multiple transport networks and is accessible by various routes. Visitors should allow time to explore the waterfront and surrounding streets where many industrial buildings still stand.
This location housed California's first electrical power generating station, which powered San Francisco in its early electrical era. The station played a key role in bringing modern energy to the city and supporting industrial growth.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
