Pier 39

Pier 39 was the brainchild of entrepreneur Warren Simmons, who transformed a dilapidated cargo pier into a bustling marketplace that opened on October 4, 1978. Despite initial skepticism from local residents and city planners who feared it would detract from the authentic maritime character of the area, the pier quickly became a commercial success. Its rustic, wooden-plank design was intended to evoke the feeling of an early 20th-century San Francisco waterfront village. Over the decades, the pier evolved from a simple shopping center into a comprehensive entertainment complex featuring an aquarium, a two-story carousel, and numerous street performers. It played a significant role in the revitalization of the northern waterfront, drawing millions of visitors annually and becoming one of the most visited attractions in the United States. Its success helped shift the local economy from industrial shipping toward tourism and hospitality. Perhaps the most iconic chapter in the pier's history began in January 1990, shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake. A small group of California sea lions began hauling out onto the pier's K-Dock, much to the surprise of boat owners. Protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the pinnipeds eventually took over the space entirely. Today, they are the pier's unofficial mascots, with their population sometimes swelling to over 1,700 individuals during the winter months.