Now: The long stretch of The Embarcadero features something to be seen from every decade in San Francisco's history, if you look carefully. The shell of the 19th-century seaport has been inhabited and variously built over in the form of shopping mall, market plaza, ferry terminal, bayfront restaurant, and condominium. On days when the wind and sun are gentle, it's hard not to feel glad to be here with the water on one hand and all of the city on the other.
Then: During the mid to late-1800s, San Francisco residents did not feel the city was big enough. The eastern shoreline was augmented with mud and debris, and a road was built along the new perimeter. The mostly empty docks jutting out from the road once serviced commerce and transport ships. See related postcards.
How To Get There: Muni and BART stop directly at the Embarcadero Station. For driving, the streets around the Ferry Plaza are usually busy during the Farmer's Market, and parking at Embarcadero Center is expensive. A parking spot is often easier to find on the streets around the South Beach area, south of Market.
Ferry Building Tower from Justin Herman Park
Fountain at Justin Herman Plaza
South side of the Ferry Plaza
Cafe outside the Ferry Plaza
At the Ferry Plaza Saturday Farmer's Market
Flowers at the Ferry Plaza Farmer's Market
Inside the Ferry Building during the Saturday Farmer's Market
Top level of the Ferry Building
Inside the Ferry Building during the Farmer's Market
Shoppers at the Farmer's Market
Farmer's Market booths, behind the Ferry Building
Outside the Farmer's Market, looking west
In back of the Farmer's Market
The Ferry Building Farmer's Market
Scharffen Berger chocolate in the Ferry Building
Storefronts inside the Ferry Building
Mijita Mexican Cuisine, inside the Ferry Building
Cowgirl Creamery
Entrance to Slanted Door, Vietnamese restaurant, Ferry Building exterior
Windows on Slanted Door, Bay Bridge reflection
Bay Bridge from Ferry Plaza exterior
Book Passage, bookstore at Ferry Plaza
Crossing the Embarcadero during the Farmer's Market
Craft booths across from the Ferry Plaza
Entrance to the Embarcadero Center, from Commercial Street at Sansome Street
Looking up from inside the middle level of Embarcadero Center
One Embarcadero Center tower, viewed from the upper level of the Embarcadero Center
Upper level of the Embarcadero Center, looking west toward the Cinema and Transamerica Pyramid
Metal sculpture in the upper level of Embarcadero Center
Spiral walkway leading down to the middle level of Embarcadero Center
Walkway and fountain in the lower level of Embarcadero Center
Walkway from one section of Embarcadero Center to another
Bath shop inside Embarcadero Center
East entrance to Embarcadero Center, at Justin Herman Plaza
Embarcadero at Washington Street, at the north exit from the Ferry Plaza
Lar Mar Seafood Restaurant on the Embarcadero at Washington Street
F-line Streetcar on the Embarcadero
Waterfront dining along the Embarcadero between Hinckley Walk and Broadway
Plant Cafe Organic, on the Embarcadero
Ferry and cruise ships docked along the Embarcadero
Pier 7, from the Embarcadero
Pier 7, at the Embarcadero, near the end of Union and Green Streets
Charter Boat at Pier 7
View of Coit Tower from Pier 7 on the Embarcadero
F-line Streetcar on Embarcadero near Green Street
Embarcadero at the intersection of Green Street
Parking lot on Embarcadero between Green and Union Streets
TCHO Chocolate, on Embarcadero at Green Street
Pier 23 Cafe, on Embarcadero at Greenwich Street
Houston's, where the Embarcadero meets Montgomery Street
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