Princess Tai Ping Open at Hyde Street Pier

The Chinese junk Princess Tai Ping is now open to the public at Hyde Street Pier. She’s tied up at the far end of the pier, adjacent to Alma, the Maritime Museum’s busy 1891 scow schooner. Bay Area residents are invited to come down to Hyde Street, have a look at the recreated 15th-century Ming Dynasty junk, meet her crew, hear her story — and to ponder the possibility that other ships like this might have visited the west coast of the Americas long before Columbus’ 1492 voyage. The Princess will be at the Pier every day through the end of the month, with the exception of Sunday afternoon, when she will sail to China Camp.

Of course, history abounds at Hyde Street Pier, location of one of the largest historic ship collections anywhere in the world. After you visit the Princess, you might want to check out Alma, the recently newly rebuilt lumber schooner C.A. Thayer, and/or the jewel of the ‘fleet’, the splendid 300-ft steel full rigger Balclutha. There are 101 other exhibits and displays, too, that will interest ‘kids’ of all ages. And with boarding passes for all ships only $5 (supervised youngsters under 16 free), it’s a great way for the whole family to enjoy a day together in these difficult economic times.