Get ready to set sail for an epic evening of tales from the deep. Join Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) at the Richmond District’s beloved Balboa Theater on Thursday, October 12 for a lively conversation between three former National Park Service historians and longtime friends: James Delgado, Stephen Haller, and John Martini. All got their start locally at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and have since gone on to esteemed careers; Jim and Steve co-wrote the seminal book “Shipwrecks at the Golden Gate.”
The main program will run from 7:00-9:00pm and will include time for Q&A. This expert trio will share stories of San Francisco and Golden Gate shipwrecks, interspersed with personal anecdotes (and banter) from their decades working with maritime history and underwater archaeology…while casually sipping whiskey. This is an intimate evening with an all-star lineup you won’t want to miss.
General Admission tickets are $40 and include access to the theater when the doors open at 6:30pm. VIP tickets are $70 and include:
Early access to the theater at 5:45pm to secure your favorite seats.
An exclusive meet-and-greet with our speakers until 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity to have your old (or new!) copy of “Shipwrecks at the Golden Gate” signed.
A complimentary beverage of your choice served in authentic Cliff House glassware, which VIP guests can take home with them.
Food and drink are available for purchase at the Balboa’s concession stand. WNP will also be selling merchandise in the lobby, including $35 hardcover copies of “Shipwrecks at the Golden Gate,” which is currently out of print. Quantities are limited!
Come on out to support WNP and this historic local theater for what promises to be a memorable evening. Questions? You can email WNP’s Director of Programs, Chelsea Sellin: chelsea@outsidelands.org
This event is part of WNP's lineup for Shipwreck Week! Check out the full slate of Shipwreck Week offerings.
Speaker Bios
Dr. James P. Delgado’s career spans nearly five decades as a maritime archaeologist and historian, focused on some of history’s most iconic shipwrecks. He was the first historian for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and helped conduct the first shipwreck research in the park, as well as working on excavations of buried ships and waterfront buildings from the Gold Rush in the Financial District. He served for 20 years as the founding head of the National Park Service maritime heritage program and as the director of maritime heritage for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He has authored, co-authored, and edited over 30 books and hundreds of scientific reports and professional journal articles. He was the host of Clive Cussler’s The Sea Hunters for National Geographic International Television and series advisor and a frequent guest on National Geographic’s international series Drain the Oceans. Dr. Delgado is currently the Senior Vice President of SEARCH, Inc., the nation’s largest company devoted to archaeology, historic preservation and museum services.
Stephen A. Haller’s 42-year career with the National Park Service included tours as Park Historian and Chief of Cultural Resources at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and Curator of Historic Documents for the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. He has also been an interpreter at a number of historic sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Alcatraz, Fort Point, and the Maritime Museum. His academic background is in 19th century American history and he has specialized in the study of shipwrecks, naval and military history. He is the author and co-author of several books and was editor of the Sea Letter, the journal of the National Maritime Museum Association. He has been the principal investigator for World War II oral history projects at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial National Historic Site in Hawaii and at the War in the Pacific National Historic Site on Guam.
John A. Martini is a life-long researcher and storyteller of the history of California and the American West. He worked as a National Park Ranger for more than 25 years at parks around the country including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and Teddy Roosevelt’s country estate at Sagamore Hill in New York. John retired to pursue a career as a writer, historian, researcher, and lecturer. He is a renowned expert in San Francisco’s many military posts and the Lands End-Sutro Baths area. In addition to authoring several books, John offers historical research and technical writing services. He appears regularly on local television and radio broadcasts, as well as The History Channel, A&E Network, The Discovery Channel and PBS specials.
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Western Neighborhoods Project (WNP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1999 that preserves, interprets, and shares the diverse history and culture of San Francisco's west side. In support of this work, WNP launched the OpenSFHistory program in 2014 to preserve and make available online thousands of historical images of San Francisco from the 1860s through the 1990s.