As a volunteer at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, you will not only stay active and involved, you will have the chance to teach others and learn new skills! Present the cultural resources of the nation's only 'floating' national park to a diverse visitor population and preserve these unique resources for future generations. VIPs are here to support all the activities in the park from ship preservation to cleaning up the shoreline along Aquatic Park beach.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the Volunteer Office by email or by phone at 415-561-7160.
Help maintain and restore the ships at Hyde Street Pier. Many of the tasks involve the preparation and painting of wood and steel surfaces. Volunteers of all skills levels are encouraged to apply.
Help fabricate, research and maintain exhibits in the Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, aboard the historic ships, and on Hyde Street Pier. Familiarity or prior training in related fields is a plus, but not essential. Must be detail oriented.
This experience can provide valuable career growth for committed volunteers. Internships are available year-round.
If Ships Could Speak:
An Introduction to Interpretation at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Are you interested in becoming a volunteer docent at the park? Our annual training course will introduce participants to maritime history and the art of presenting educational programs. Chart a course as a steward of this unique "floating national park." Learn the stories preserved by the park's collection of authentic 19th century vessels and Depression Era art in the Maritime Museum. Once trained, docents share their knowledge with park visitors through formal educational programs and informal contacts.
We ask docents to serve 10 hours per month for at least one year. Docents serve at contact stations in our Visitor Center and Maritime Museum. The park provides a volunteer uniform. Housing is not provided.
Training dates will be posted on this page when they are confirmed. Required training takes place once per year, but new docents can start anytime. For more information and an interview, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Lou Salas Sian at 415-964-8698 or by email.
Please note: Hercules is currently at Bay Ship & Yacht's drydock facility.
Work with other skilled volunteers and staff to expand your knowledge and help preserve this vessel.
Liscensed steam engineers, oilers, wipers and ABs (Able Bodied Seamen) are sought, but all hands are welcome!
Assist staff archivists with the arranging, describing and preservation of historic photographs, textural records, and marine architectural drawings.
Help develop outreach services and assist the public with access to historic documents.
Good handwriting and computer skills are helpful. This is an excellent learning opportunity for those interested in these unique resources or museum studies. Internships are available year-round.
Become a member of the sailing crew of scow schooner Alma. Learn traditional seamenship on San Francisco Bay while acting as a sailing ambassador for the park.
Woodworking, metalworking, painting, rigging, diesel mechanics and canvas work are among the many skills needed to keep the ship sailing.
No previous sailing experience is required, but a willingness to learn and apply new skills is.
Learn and practice traditional sailor's arts and marline spike seamenship. Learn to "worm, parcel, and serve, " a process that protects wire rigging on ships. You must enjoy getting dirty and the smell of Stockholm tar.
Learn how to lash and lift heavy loads safely onboard the ships. Understand that riggers also spend alot of time painting, chipping, scraping, and cleaning.
Regular volunteers who demonstrate interest, ability, and committment may also learn more complicted techniques such as splicing wire and advanced rope work.
On the second Saturday of the month, costumned Living History players recreate the year 1901 on Hyde Street Pier through first and third person interpretation, storytelling, and activities that represent maritime life in 1901.
Character development, interest in historical research, dedication to accuracy, and a one year committment to the program as a team player, are required. A flair for dramatic representation helps, but you don't have to be an actor.
For over thirty years sea music enthusiasts have gathered at San Francisco Maritime to sing chanteys and other sea songs. This free event, which takes place the first Saturday of every month, has garnered a loyal following, drawing 80 to 200 people monthly. Volunteers work in half hour shifts to check in visitors who have reserved a space, and can enjoy singing along during the rest of the event.
Help support San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s Aquatic Park, Victorian Park, Pocket Park, and beach area through picking up trash and/or marine debris. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines marine debris as “any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. Anything human-made and solid can become marine debris once lost or littered in these aquatic environments. Our trash has been found in every corner of our ocean, from the most remote shorelines, to ice in the Arctic, and even the deepest parts of the sea floor.”
The crew meets every third Saturday from 10am to 1pm. Volunteers can work independently or in pairs.
Volunteering in this department is ideal for those of you who like to "mess around in boats." The focus is on the maintenance and restoration of the park's collection of 100 historic watercraft.
Learn traditional boat building and repair techniques, including how to use hand and power tools.
Work on boats in the Small Boat Shop, on floating vessels at Hyde Street Pier, and at off-site special events.
No matter what your background, we encourage everyone to volunteer in San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Share your skills. Your contribution matters and you can make a difference! Call today: 415-561-7160.
Maritime Volunteer Office
San Francisco Maritime NHP
2905 Hyde Street, Hyde Street Pier
San Francisco, CA 94123
Volunteer Today and Become a Member of Our Team!
Scow schooner Alma crew take a break with Superintendent Paul Deprey
NPS
We thank and salute our active volunteers at San Francisco Maritime who assist in a variety of work at the maritime national park. Volunteers staff the information desks in the Visitor Center and Maritime Museum, lead interpretive talks, walks, and demonstrations, help NPS riggers maintain the historic ships, preserve small crafts in the nation's maritime collections. For more information, apply on volunteer.gov.
Riggers volunteer working aloft on Balclutha with NPS volunteer riggers supervisor.
NPS
Boat Shop volunteer working on Eva B.
NPS
Docent on Balclutha demonstrating instruments used in navigating ships at sea.
NPS
Park volunteers help keep the park's small craft shipshape.
NPS
Last updated: November 2, 2024
Park footer
Contact Info
Mailing Address:
2 Marina Boulevard,
Building E, 2nd Floor
San Francisco,
CA
94123
Phone:
415 561-7000
The public information office is open from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. PST.
