Pier 70 Time Machine

10/14/2026

In the News: San Francisco Chronicle Features the Pier 70 Time Machine!

We are thrilled to share that the Pier 70 Time Machine was featured in a major spotlight by the San Francisco Chronicle!

Written by acclaimed cultural reporter Sam Whiting, the feature article—“In Dogpatch, Pier 70 museum opens a window into SF’s shipbuilding past”—takes readers inside our new 4,000 sq. ft. exhibition space in historic Building 12.

The profile captures the collaborative vision of co-directors William J. Perez (Bethlehem Shipyard Museum) and Peter Linenthal (Potrero Hill Archives Project), highlighting:

🔹 Over a century of West Coast maritime labor, heavy forging, and shipbuilding innovation.

🔹 The engineering feat of hydraulically elevating the 2,000-ton steel frame of Building 12 ten feet to protect this history from rising sea levels.

🔹 Our growing footprint, following recent broadcasts on NBC Bay Area and KTVU FOX 2.

Read the full feature:

LINK: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/dogpatch-pier-70-museum-22458222.php

📍 Come experience history in person this weekend!

• Location: Building 12, Suite 2.35, Pier 70, San Francisco (Dogpatch)

• Hours: Friday 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Saturday & Sunday 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

• Admission: Free!

Learn more at Pier70TimeMachine.com | BethlehemShipyardMuseum.org

10/09/2026

Preserving local history isn't just about looking backward; it's about understanding the foundation our neighborhood is built on as it continues to grow.

Join us on Saturday, November 7th at Pier 70 as we highlight the people, spaces, and waterfront industries that defined Dogpatch and Potrero Hill. Whether you’ve lived here for fifty years or just moved in last month, this annual gathering is the best way to get grounded in the stories that surround us every day.

Come early to take in the historic setting of Building 12, grab a slice of pizza, and catch up with neighbors before the presentations begin. Admission is free and open to all—bring a friend, share this post with your neighborhood group, and spend an evening with the voices keeping our waterfront history alive!

10/08/2026

Exciting news from the Pier 70 Time Machine!

We were thrilled to welcome Emmy Award-winning NBC Bay Area video journalist Joe Rosato Jr. to historic Building 12 on September 29, 2026, to film an in-depth story on our newly opened 4,200-square-foot museum space!

📺 Watch the full story on NBC Bay Area: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/new-museum-dogpatch-industrial-past/4152249/?4532

Joe was joined by Co-Directors Peter Linenthal and William Perez for a look at the history we're preserving and sharing at Pier 70.

Come explore our rich local history, featuring:

🔹 Ramaytush Ohlone & Indigenous Heritage — honoring the ancestral stewards of this land.

🔹 WWII "Destroyer Alley" & USS Hornet Partnership — showcasing rare naval artifacts and the extraordinary industrial story of Pier 70.

🔹 Interactive Pier 70 Timeline & Irish Hill History — connecting the people, places, and events that shaped our neighborhood.

SAVE THE DATE!

Potrero Hill History Night

Saturday, November 7, 2026

Join us for an extraordinary evening celebrating the history and heritage of Potrero Hill!

The festivities kick off at 5:30 PM at the Building 12 Makers’ Market with pizza and live music, followed by the main program from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Full details will be posted tomorrow.

📍 Location & Getting Here:

Building 12, Suite 2.35 — Pier 70

1070 Maryland St, San Francisco, CA 94107

(Main entrance near the end of 22nd St — head east off 3rd & Illinois toward the Bay)

🕒 Regular Hours: Friday 5:00-8:00 PM Saturdays & Sundays, 12:00 AM–4:00 PM

Complimentary private curator-led tours are also available daily for groups of any size.

🎟️ Admission: FREE!

Always original. Always fun. Always free.

As San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood undergoes a metamorphosis, a new museum has popped up to remind the neighborhood of its past.

09/18/2026

It’s official—we are open for our very first regular weekend of operation! Come celebrate with us and dive into San Francisco's incredible industrial and neighborhood history.

Weekend Hours:
Saturdays & Sundays | 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Stay tuned—our regular weekday schedule will be announced very soon!

📍 Where to Find Us:
Building 12, Suite 2.35 at Pier 70, San Francisco.

Admission: Free

What's on View: Explore our newly launched exhibits, historic photographs, and fascinating neighborhood artifacts.

We can’t wait to welcome you and share the stories of the waterfront!

🌐 Learn More: pier70timemachine.com | bethlehemshipyardmuseum.org

09/09/2026

Scan the QR code for the poster companion to Wendy the Welder: At Work & at Home (1941-1945), and join us at Building 12, Pier 70, Suite 2.35 for our grand opening weekend during the following hours:

Friday, September 11: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Saturday, September 12: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday, September 13: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

09/09/2026

Part 1: Wendy at Work — The Shipbuilding Crucible at Potrero Point

At the Bethlehem Steel Potrero Yard at 20th and Illinois Streets, women affectionately known as "Wendy the Welder" stepped into heavy industrial roles to help build and repair the Pacific Fleet. Their monumental contributions included constructing Fletcher- and Allen M. Sumner-class destroyers as well as Atlanta-class light cruisers like the USS Oakland. Operating around the clock, the yard also specialized in rapid battle-damage emergency drydock overhauls following brutal naval engagements in the Pacific.

Extreme Working Conditions
Wartime welding was a grueling physical feat. A typical Wendy wore 30 lbs of protective leather to shield against molten metal and used a welding hood with a #10 shade lens to prevent "welder's flash" (eye burns). The electric arc stinger she operated delivered an intense 10,000°F of heat to fuse steel.

Welders operated "Inside the Steel Coffins"—18-to-24-inch double-bottom hull compartments. They endured suffocating heat, ozone, and toxic zinc-chromate primer smoke, often using vinegar-soaked bandanas as makeshift respirators while meeting the pressure of 100% naval X-ray weld inspections.

Blackout Shifts and Civil Rights
Under "Blackout" conditions to hide Pier 70 from Japanese submarines, all-female "V-Units" worked behind light traps and under dim blue bulbs.

Real Voices from the Shipyard
Luci Cortes: At 5 feet tall, her stature was a "superpower" for crawling into tight voids where men couldn't fit.
Julia Boyd: Shared stories of bonding with coworkers Chilli and Luci, eating lunch on steel plating and maintaining the communal coffee pot.
Ella Varney: Entered welding because of "Hi**er and Hirohito," earning double the pay of department store clerks while wearing $2.98 jeans.
Frances Albrier: Led the fight to break racial barriers and successfully integrate Boilermakers Local No. 6 in 1942.

The historical photograph captures the former Pier 70 Welders positioned directly in front of a submarine at the foot of 16th Street, an area now occupied by the Chase Center. Discover more vintage photographs and historical details by visiting our exhibits at Pier 70, Building 12, Suite 2.35.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our series.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

GRAND OPENING:

The Pier 70 Time Machine is Opening Its Doors!

🚢⚙️Join us next weekend—September 11, 12, and 13, 2026—for the official Grand Opening of the Pier 70 Time Machine in historic Building 12 (Suite 2.35) at Pier 70! Brought to you by a 50/50 partnership between the Bethlehem Shipyard Museum and the Potrero Hill Archives Project, our new space celebrates the gritty, vibrant legacy of San Francisco’s industrial neighborhoods of Potrero Hill and Dogpatch.

Event Schedule:
Friday, Sept 11: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, Sept 12: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday, Sept 13: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

📍 Location: 1070 Maryland Street, Suite 2.35, San Francisco, CA

Step inside and explore hundreds of primary artifacts, the 24-foot 10,000-Year History Wall, the Ramaytush Ohlone Cultural Display, Life and Death on Irish Hill, the Bob Hayes Photographic Retrospective, and deep archives honoring Union Iron Works, Bethlehem Steel and the neighborhood. Come stand where history was made and help us keep these stories alive for the community! Free and open to all.

Learn more at Pier70TimeMachine.com and BethlehemShipyardMuseum.org.

Send a message to learn more

07/12/2026

FIRST LOOK EVENT!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our exclusive open-house preview event yesterday.
While we are not quite ready for our Grand Opening, our "First Look" event provided a behind-the-scenes peak at what is to come. We were thrilled by the incredible turnout and the wonderful response to our brand-new 4,200-square-foot exhibition space inside historic Building 12 (Suite 2.35) at Pier 70. Seeing the community come together to explore the maritime, industrial, and neighborhood history of San Francisco’s southeastern waterfront made the hard work of moving in this spring completely worth it.
It was an honor to share the stories of Potrero Hill, Dogpatch, and Pier 70 with you all. This event was just the beginning; please stay tuned for updates regarding our official Grand Opening and upcoming programming.

We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

06/26/2026

You're Invited: Welcome to FIRST LOOK

No tickets. No rigid schedules. Just incredible history, great vibes, and complete freedom to explore.

We’re throwing open the doors for First Look—a casual, drop-by showcase of our newest exhibits. Whether you're on a lunch break or unwinding after work, swing by and see what we've been building!

What to Expect:
Exclusive First Look: Explore brand-new upcoming exhibitions and rare artifacts at your own pace.

Expert Insights: Chat with our curators hanging out in the galleries to get the untold stories.

Relaxed Energy: Enjoy complimentary refreshments in a fun, zero-pressure atmosphere.

This event is 100% free—no catch, no paywalls. Bring a friend, drop in whenever you like, and stay as long as you want!

📅 When: Friday, July 10, 2026 | Drop by anytime from 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Building 12, Suite 2.35, Pier 70
(Look for our signs near the main stairway!)

Cost: Always Free!