Steam Tug Hercules

Hercules is a 1907-built steam tugboat under restoration, and open to the public. Disclaimer: This site is not operated by the National Park Service.

Hercules was built in 1907 by John H. Dialogue and Sons, of Camden, New Jersey. She was built for the Shipowners' and Merchants' Tugboat Company of San Francisco, as part of their Red Stack Fleet. After completion, Hercules was sailed to San Francisco via the Straits of Magellan with her sister ship, Goliah, in tow. For the first part of her life, Hercules was an ocean going tug. Because of the pr

evailing northwest winds, sailing ships often employed Hercules and her sisters on journeys north up the coast from San Francisco. For example, in 1916, Hercules towed C.A. Thayer to Port Townsend, Washington. On return trips back down the coast, Hercules often towed log rafts of Pacific Northwest timber, to Southern California mills. At other times, Hercules was employed towing barges to other ports on the West Coast and to Hawaii, and in transporting equipment for the construction of the Panama Canal. In 1924, Hercules was acquired by the Western Pacific Railroad. For her new owners, she worked shuttling railroad car floats across San Francisco Bay from Oakland and Alameda to San Francisco. She worked in this role until 1957, when she was replaced by the diesel-powered train ferry Las Plumas. Hercules was kept in a stand-by role to the new ferry until 1961. The California State Park Foundation acquired Hercules in 1975, and the National Park Service took over her restoration in 1977. In 1986 she was designated a National Historic Landmark. She is now one of the exhibits open to the public, of the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and is to be found moored at the park's Hyde Street Pier. Hercules from the TV show Tugs is based on this vessel. Text via Wikipedia.com. Disclaimer: This page for the Steam Tug Hercules is not operated by the National Park Service, or by San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park. The opinions and thoughts expressed on this page are in no way expressed by or for the National Park Service, or SFMNHP. This page is maintained by volunteers who have an interest in the Steam Tug Hercules.

09/12/2023

Here's a couple of photos at the shipyard last week, after hauling Hercules out. Hope you all enjoy! Photo credit: Erik Olson, NPS.

05/13/2023

We're going to drydock this week.

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PARK UPDATE

On Wednesday, May 17, 2023, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s 1907 steam tugboat HERCULES will leave its Hyde Street Pier berth under tow for a visit to a drydock facility in Alameda, CA. While in drydock, HERCULES, a National Historic Landmark (NHL) vessel, will undergo preservation work including cleaning, painting, and other maintenance.

More information at: https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/news/1907-steam-tugboat-hercules-will-visit-drydock-facility-for-preservation-work.htm

IMAGE: The steam tug Hercules, built in 1907, navigating on San Francisco Bay. NPS Photo.

07/31/2021

This past Wednesday we replaced a broken shackle on the stack stay, starboard side. Park Service rigger Reno Cambridge assisted by our volunteer crew and park crew did the work aloft. Using two stack hooks, a bosuns chair, primary load line and secondary safety line, he was able to grind through the old shackle, inspect the attachment point and install a new shackle. Here's a photo of Reno at work and the old shackle.

07/02/2021

This week we opened up the cylinder heads on our towing winch to inspect the bores. Everything looked great, we replaced one broken stud and missing nut, lubricated the bores and closed the heads back up.

04/04/2018

HERCULES main engine right now under steam. Sorry about the poor video quality. We will try to get a better tour style clip uploaded a little later.

04/03/2018

Hi friends,

We will be firing up HERCULES on Wednesday, April 4th from 11 am to 4:30 pm, at 2905 Hyde Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94109. If you're in the area, please come down to see the old girl under steam.

08/24/2017

Insert plate to repair wasted deck plate where the chain ramp will be installed for our steering chains. The wood ramps held moisture, and severely corroded the steel deck. Park metal worker Channing finished the work today on this port side repair.

08/22/2017

Good morning everyone, we will be steaming the HERCULES on Wednesday, September 6th. If you would like to visit, our hours for the park are 9:30am to 5pm. The ship will be open for ranger led tours from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm. Come on down and see all of the ships machinery, including the main engine operating.

12/06/2016

Hi folks,

Sorry for the short notice, but we will be steaming up for the public on Wednesday, December 7th, from 9am to 3pm. We will be open, and have ranger led tours available, you'll get to see the main engine turning over, and tour through the entire vessel. Hope some of you can make it down. We are located at the Hyde Street Pier, 2905 Hyde Street, San Francisco, Ca. 94109. For further information, call 415-561-7169

11/29/2016

Announced today, steam tug HERCULES has won the Steamship Historical Society Of America's "Tugboat of the Year Award for 2016. Click on the link below to see their announcement.

http://sprintout.com/emailmarketer/display.php?M=1975302&C=bca3ff6686247cb4edbaf1be6f918ff0&L=734&N=2481

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Hyde Street Pier, 2905 Hyde St
San Francisco, CA
94109

Steam Tug Hercules

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