Pier 43 Ferry Arch

The Pier 43 Ferry Arch is a remnant of a time when the San Francisco waterfront was the primary engine of the city’s economy. Built in 1914, this structure served as the headhouse for a specialized rail ferry slip. Before the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges connected the city to the rest of the region, cargo trains were literally driven onto massive barges to be ferried across the water. The arch acted as a hoisting tower, housing the heavy machinery needed to adjust the ramp height to match the tide, ensuring that rail cars could roll smoothly between the land and the ferry deck.