The General Harrison by Curtis Hollenback and Topher DelanyThe financial district of San Francisco was built on mudflats. At one time, the muddy shoreline came up to Montgomery Street. The mudflats were riddled with hulls of abandoned ships left by their crews when they headed for the gold in the California hills. These ships were often used as hotels, jails, stores, and warehouses. In 2001, one of these ships, the General Harrison, was uncovered at the corner of Clay and Battery Streets; today the Elephant & Castle Pub sits atop the remains of the hull.
The Oakland-based archaeology firm Archeo-Tec was allowed to painstakingly uncover the ship and document its findings. As development of the site was imminent, the developers commissioned a work to commemorate the finding. Topher Delany worked with the archaeologists to find accurate drawings of the skeleton of the hull. Based on the drawings and photographs, Topher worked with colleague Curtis Hollenback to design and build a piece of public artwork that could be mounted on the side of the new 4-story building. Repeating the design of the outline of the ship, the sculpture is a 60-foot, flatted hull made of copper with supporting ribs that attach to a stainless steel grid and frame.
On the street level, the sidewalk is designed with copper nails collected from the hull. An inlaid metal strip outlines the curved starboard edge of the ship, disappearing into the base of the building. The portside is under the building, and the bow extends onto the Battery Street sidewalk.
Wow, this is a fascinating blog, also! What a great story. Can’t imagine anything constructed on the hull of a ship laying in the mud.
I’m coming back here! Great fun and very informational!
Many years ago, I worked in Phoenix. My boss came from San Francisco. All he talked about was SF. He LOVED the place. He was in his 50s and planned to move back as soon as he could retire. Unfortunately, he died of a heart attack at the wheel of his car on the way to a company party. But I’ll never forget his strong attachment to San Francisco.
This works so well!
Glad that Lowell found you – he sounds quite pleased!
Interesting post. I think it’s great that while they could not excavate the hull, they remember it in the art on the building and in the sidewalk.
I love all this history about SF that I never knew!