Hyde Street Pier is the heart of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, a working pier lined with a remarkable fleet of historic vessels you can board and explore. The star is the Balclutha, a square-rigged steel sailing ship of 1886 that rounded Cape Horn many times; alongside her are an 1890 steam ferryboat, a paddle tug, a scow schooner, and other craft that tell the story of the bay's seafaring and commercial past.
It is a refreshingly authentic counterpoint to the souvenir bustle of the rest of the wharf — climb belowdecks, walk the rigging-lined decks, and get a real feel for life at sea in the age of sail and early steam. The nearby park visitor centre and the Aquatic Park bathhouse round out the experience. A modest admission covers the ships; the pier itself and the views are free.