Mechanicrawl 02008

To everybody who attended

Thank You!

Event Coverage in Photos

Starting at noon, tickets can be purchased and picked up at either Pier 45 by the USS Pampanito or at The Long Now Museum & Store.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children (under 6 are free) and $11 for students and seniors or free to members of any of the Main Attractions.

Latest Mechanicrawl News and Blog posts.

Saturday July 12, 02008

The Mechanicrawl

from Noon to 8pm

Spend a summer day exploring the mechanical marvels along San Francisco's North Shore! See giant running steam engines, turn of the century automata, mechanical computers and more...

Map Your Own Crawl

Plan your route however you'd like.
Map Your own Crawl. Got an iPhone? Visit this same page for a special web app.

Exploratorium

Visit the Exploratorium's famed interactive exhibits on science, art and human perception. Summer highlights include the Superstition Obstacle Course and Mind, which features over 40 new exhibits on cognitive thinking.

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The Long Now Museum and Store

An eight foot high mechanical planetarium, a "walking bearing", the Equation of Time Cam, a sphere of solid tungsten, a microetched language archive and more... All of these exhibits are part of the Long Now's project to build a Clock to last for 10,000 years. There will be tours, demonstrations, and a chance to meet the team who are building the Clock.

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Musee Mecanique

See turn of the century automata including San Francisco's own "Laffing Sal", mechanically operated musical instruments, a rare steam powered motorcycle, classic video games from the 70's on and much, much more. There are over 200 coin operated machines, so bring your extra change! Second generation curator Dan Zelinsky will be giving demonstrations, tours and behind the scenes anecdotes on this amazing collection.

  • Homepage |
  • Admission is free every day

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Working exhibits of block and tackle, capstans to load and unload cargo, a giant Fresnel lens and more boat lore and mechanical ingenuity await you at this waterfront park. Historic ships are docked along side the Hyde Street Pier with a backdrop of spectacular views of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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SS Jeremiah O'Brien

There are few places on earth where you can be inside a giant running steam engine. The O'Brien's engine room puts the steam back in steam punk. This massive engine room of one of the last few Liberty Ships, many of which were made here in the Bay Area, was used as the engine room set for the Titanic movie! The engines will be running for Mechanicrawl.

USS Pampanito

The USS Pampanito diesel electric submarine has recently completed a renovation of its Torpedo Data Computer, one of the most complex electro-mechanical computers ever put into service. The technicians involved in the renovation will be running demonstrations of the unit in the usually off-limits conning tower. Submarine veterans will be on hand to discuss other elements of the craft including an Electronic Cipher Machine, the Periscopes, Hydraulic Systems and more!

Map Your Crawl

Printable List (PDF)

  • Foot
  • Bike
  • Public
  • Car
  • Food
  • More...

By Foot

The distance from Pier 45 to The Exploratorium is 2.38 miles.

The Mechanicrawl route can be walked by almost the exact same path as it can be biked. The key difference is that there is a staircase connecting Upper Fort Mason to Fort Mason Center. Another option is to walk part of the way and take the bus out to the Exploratorium, see the "Public" tab for more details.

By Bike

The distance from Pier 45 to The Exploratorium is 2.38 miles.

In the spirit of this mechanical celebration, bicycling is highly encouraged. This map shows the most convenient route between the participating locations. For more detailed information, check back soon or visit the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition's website.

Bike Parking - bring your lock

The SF Bike Coalition will have a bike valet set up on Pier 45, directly across from the USS Pampanito. There are ample racks, railings and fences at Fort Mason Center and the Exploratorium to lock your bike.

View the San Francisco bike map (PDF Format)

One of the benefits of bicycling this event is that wherever you decide to start, you'll be able to stay along the water enjoying views of the bay.

By Public

The distance from Pier 45 to The Exploratorium is 2.38 miles.

This map only shows MUNI bus routes that are relevant to Mechanicrawl. Official MUNI maps are available here: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mmaps/official.htm

  • #28 - This line will take you between The Exploratorium (get on or off at Francisco) and Fort Mason Center (The line terminates across from the Fort Mason Center Gate on Marina).
  • #30 - This line will take you from Downtown to the S.F. Maritime National Historical Park (get on or off at Hyde) and over to The Exploratorium (get on or off at Jefferson).
  • #47 - This line will take you from anywhere along Van Ness Ave. to the S.F. Maritime National Historical Park (get on or off at Hyde) and the Fisherman's Wharf area (get on or off at Taylor).
  • #10 - This line will take you from Downtown and along the Embarcadero to the Fisherman's Wharf area (get on or off at Taylor) and the S.F. Maritime National Historical Park (get on or off at Hyde).
  • #20 - This line will take you from Downtown to the S.F. Maritime National Historical Park (get on or off at Hyde).
  • F-Line - This line will take you from Market St. and along the Embarcadero to the Fisherman's Wharf area (get on or off at Taylor).

By Car (Places to Park)

Exploratorium
Parking is free, but limited
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
Directions to the Museum (recording): (415) 561-0399
http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/directions.html

Marina Green Park
Parking is free in the Marina Green Park along Marina Blvd. between Buchanan and Scott.

Fort Mason Center Marina Blvd. at Buchanan San Francisco, CA 94123 directions: http://www.fortmason.org/directions/index.shtml

  • First Hour is Free
  • 1hr to 1.5hr: $1.00
  • 1.5hr to 2hr: $2.00
  • 2hr to 2.5: $4.00
  • 2.5hr to 3hr: $6.00
  • More than 3hr: $8.00 per day

Fisherman's Wharf Area
Parking Garages: http://www.visitfishermanswharf.com/gettingaround/parking.aspx

  • Anchorage Garage
    500 Beach Street
    415-673-7762
  • Beach and Hyde Garage
    655 Beach Street
    415-673-1735
  • Cost Plus Garage
    435 North Point Street
    415-441-6932
  • Fisherman's Wharf Parking Lot
    100 Jefferson Street
    415-441-4053
  • Ghirardelli Square Garage
    900 North Point Street
    415-775-5500
  • Northpoint Shopping
    Center Garage
    350 Bay Street
  • PIER 39 Parking Garage
    2250 Powell Street
    415-705-5418
  • The Wharf Garage
    350 Beach Street
  • Wharf Parking Inc
    450 Beach Street

Food

Here are a few suggestions for places to stop for sustenance along your mechanical journey. The densest concentrations of restaurants, cafes, and bars are near Fisherman's Wharf and on Chestnut Street between Fillmore and Broderick.

More...

Tickets can be purchased (and will call tickets picked up) at either Pier 45 by the USS Pampanito starting at 3 pm on the day of the event, or at The Long Now Museum and Store starting at noon.

Keep your ticket with you - it is your pass to all locations!

This map shows ticket purchase and will call locations as well as additional events happening on the same day as Mechanicrawl and other locations of interest. We've also listed restrooms, bike rentals and valet parking for bikes.

Renegade Craft Fair

The Renegade Craft Fair will be held Saturday and Sunday, July 12th and 13th. It runs from 11am to 7pm on Fort Mason Center's Festival Pavilion. It isn't an official part of Mechanicrawl, but it is free and close by.

It starts earlier in the day, so you can easily do both!

Check their website for details: http://renegadecraft.com/sanfran/index.html

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est. 01996.