The Bay Area is full of world famous sights and landmarks.
But behind every sight is a story, the untold history of who, why and how. The Pacific Pearl History tours uniquely blend the on-the water perspective with live narration from several of the area’s top historian(s). Each tour has a specific itinerary designed to unwrap the history and lore. Which President's yacht was used as a high seas marijuana smuggler? Unravel the tale of the mysterious Bay Bridge troll or the location of Jack London’s famed sailing vessel the Snark. Part cruise, part interactive history class, bring the binoculars and soak up tales from a past era.
Oakland
Waterfront Tour with Liam O’Donoghue
Take a journey through centuries of waterfront history with East Bay Yesterday host Liam O’Donoghue. This unique boat tour will cruise from the Emeryville Marina out to Yerba Buena Island before heading back towards the Oakland estuary for visits to the Port, Jack London Square and Alameda. Expect to hear stories about whale-hunters, literary legends, booming shipyards, sea creatures, notorious myths, Wild West showdowns, mysterious shipwrecks and more.
DURATION: 3 hours
VESSEL: Pacific Pearl
Richmond
Waterfront Tour with Liam O’Donaghue of East Bay Yesterday
Join us for a voyage back in time hosted by Liam O’Donoghue, creator of the East Bay Yesterday podcast. The tour will cruise from the Emeryville Marina along the shorelines of Berkeley, Albany, and Richmond. Along the way, expect to hear stories about the ecological, industrial, and cultural history of this ever-changing stretch of bayfront.
Over the past century, this area has been the site of mighty shipyards, toxic waste dumps, one of America’s last whaling stations, marshland restoration projects, and much more. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks along during this up-close look at one of the most dynamic regions of the East Bay.
Duration: 3 Hr
Vessel: Pacific Pearl
Liam O'Donoghue
is the founder of the East Bay Yesterday podcast and co-creator of the Long Lost Oakland map. East Bay Yesterday was named “The Best Podcast about the East Bay” in 2017 by the East Bay Express. This independently-produced series explores stories of culture, politics and nature from Oakland, Berkeley and other towns throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
“Mind blown. I am a person who generally likens guided tours to a form of crude psychological torture. But this was very much the opposite experience. I will never see SF the same way again.”
San Francisco - South Shore
Telegraph Hill to San Bruno Mountain
The "City Front" tour takes us north under the Bay Bridge as far as Telegraph Hill before we cruise south to below Candlestick Point and then make our way back along the shoreline, with close looks at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, India Basin and Heron's Head Park, Islais Creek and Pier 80, Pier 70, and Mission Bay.
DURATION: 3 hours
VESSEL: Pacific Pearl
Shaping SF history bay cruise gives a fresh angle on SF—yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Super knowledgeable narration as we rode along the “shoreline” (and learned what that even means). Great boat w lots of space inside and out. You will be surprised to see what’s right there — tho you never saw it before. Five stars!
— Frank Hart, March 5, 2020
San Francisco - North shore
Shaping San Francisco - A Cityfront Tour with Chris Carlsson
Cruise along with local Historian and San Francisco aficionado Chris Carlsson as he takes you on a journey along the famed San Francisco “Cityfront”. New for 2021, the itinerary takes you north along the Ferry building, diving deep into the Barbary Coast era of Fisherman's wharf, Aquatic park, Crissy field and concluding with a big turn around the incredible South Tower of the Golden Gate bridge.
The Northern Shore of the City will revisit the early history of Yerba Buena Cove and Telegraph Hill, too, but then we'll wrap around the city to explore Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason/Black Point, the former Panama-Pacific International Exposition grounds in the Marina and the Presidio, and reach Fort Point under the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Francisco's shoreline is packed with lost and forgotten histories, many of which surprisingly still shape our lives today. Carlsson is a skilled storyteller who will make our gorgeous cruise as entertaining and informative as it is beautiful!
DURATION: 3 hours
VESSEL: Pacific Pearl
