Richmond’s naturally deep waterfront lent itself to early industrial development. Augustin MacDonald recognized the potential here in 1895 and promoted the idea of a railway terminal. He observed that this was the only point in the East Bay where navigable water came right up to the land.
The San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway Company laid the groundwork for rail service to Ferry Point before it was acquired by the Santa Fe Railroad. Chicago trains began arriving at Ferry Point in 1900. The ferry boat San Pablo operated at Ferry Point from 1900 until 1933. Custom built for the Santa Fe by Union Iron Works in San Francisco, she originally burned coal, but was later converted to oil.
The San Pablo was 226 feet long and 36 feet wide and had two 16-foot paddle wheels. By 1915, Santa Fe’s operation at Ferry Point included a 620-foot-long terminal shed with a passenger waiting room at the west end, mooring docks, wharves, and a large fleet of maritime vessels.
The new bayshore community of Richmond sprang up following Santa Fe’s move to the area. Passenger and auto ferries operated through the 1930’s; freight operations continued into the 1960’s. At one time, the Bay Area boasted the world’s largest ferry system. (This historical information is taken from nearby Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline signs.)