07/19/2024
The Richmond-San Rafael Ferry & Transportation Company was established in 1915 along Stenmark Drive and past Pt. Molate. Before the bridge connected us across the bay, the ferry system was essential for travel. 🛳️ Those using this ferry system had the option of driving to the ferry or taking the trolly. In 1916, the Charles Van Damme ferry, built by James Robert and named after the company’s first president Charles Van Damme, made its maiden voyage on July 18th. This ferry system operated until the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge's completion in 1956. However, the story of the Charles Van Damme didn't end there!
This historic ferry served as 3 different restaurants and also functioned as a music venue, hosting legends like , , , and members of the . Though dismantled in the 1980s, her paddle wheel and smokestack were salvaged. The Charles Van Damme Ferry project is now working to restore and exhibit them at Waldo Point Harbor in Sausalito! We encourage you check out their page and support if you can. They're about 75% there with the funds but need help with the last 25%. 🌊⚓
A brief History of Richmond Water Transportation services
Before the construction of the Bay Bridge or the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, those looking to travel across the bay had limited options in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The development of Richmond began several years before its incorporation, with Captain George Ellis establishing a transportation business at Ellis Landing. He transported hay, grain, and passengers across the bay on schooners like the Sierra and the Mystery.
In 1895, Augustin S. Macdonald saw Richmond’s waterfront potential, leading to industrial growth and increased transportation needs. By 1900, the Santa Fe Railway’s westernmost terminus at Pt. Richmond Pier became a commercial ferry hub until the 1980s. For non-commercial use, Southern Pacific Golden Gate Ferries operated from 1927 until the Bay Bridge's completion in 1936.
In 2019, the launched its Richmond Route, continuing our rich water transport tradition! 🌊🛥️
