What’s Fisherman’s Wharf?

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Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco is a popular tourist attraction known for its seafood, especially Dungeness crab. The area has many historical and modern attractions, including museums, shopping centers, and historic ships. The first fishermen in the area were Italian immigrants in the 19th century, and their descendants still operate many of the restaurants and fishing boats. Crab season starts in November and is celebrated by locals and tourists. Crabs are caught using crab pots and sold boiled or in dishes like chowder and cocktail.

Fisherman’s Wharf is a tourist attraction located on the waterfront in San Francisco, California. In the 19th century, immigrant fishermen from Italy settled here, and many of the area’s restaurants and fishing boats remain in the hands of their descendants. The area is considered to be famous for its seafood, especially its crabs. Other area attractions include Hyde Street Pier and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Visitors to Fisherman’s Wharf can also tour the area on one of San Francisco’s historic streetcars.

There are a plethora of tourist attractions in San Francisco’s historic district known as Fisherman’s Wharf. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area includes the Hyde Street Pier portion of Fisherman’s Wharf. Shopping can be done at Pier 39, Ghirardelli Square or the Cannery Shopping Center. The area boasts a Wax Museum, a Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and a Musée Mécanique. Visitors can explore the Balclutha, a 19th-century whaling ship, and the USS Pampanito, a WWII submarine.

Historically, the San Francisco fisherman worked out of Fisherman’s Wharf. Although the area is now a popular tourist attraction, most of San Francisco’s career fishermen continue to work in the area. The first fishermen to settle in the area were Italian immigrants, who began appearing around the time of the Gold Rush in the 19th century. The boats these original fishermen used were sailboats much like the ones they once used in their Italian homeland. Gasoline and diesel powered boats came later.

Dungeness crab may be one of the most popular foods available at Fisherman’s Wharf. These crabs are native to the waters off the coast of San Francisco. Crab season at Fisherman’s Wharf typically begins in November and is usually greeted with much celebration among locals and tourists alike. While Dungeness crab was once abundant in waters near the mouth of San Francisco Bay, the decline in the crab’s natural food animals has forced modern fishermen to catch them far further out to sea.

Crabs are typically trapped by lowering crab pots to the ocean floor, then harvesting them very early the next morning. Fishermen traditionally boiled and sold crabs from their stalls. Most offered both whole crabs and bowls filled with crabmeat. Today, restaurants in the area sell boiled crab, crab chowder, and cups of crab cocktail on the street.




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