The Interior Department has recognized the Silvergate ferry dating back to the World War II-era, along with another San Diego ferry, on the National Register of Historic Places.
Recognition means the Silvergate (built in 1940) and the Cabrillo (built in 1964), are worthy of preservation due to their cultural, architectural and maritime significance.
The boats are owned by Flagship Cruises & Events. The Silvergate, which runs from downtown San Diego to Coronado, is known for its “distinctive silhouette and warm wood detailing,” according to the company. It was recognized as a significant historical resource for its role in maritime transportation, ferrying passengers to and from Naval Station North Island during World War II and post-war years.
The company says the Cabrillo is historically recognized for its period of significance between 1964 and 1968 when it operated as an excursion vessel during the post-war maritime recreation boom in San Diego. The ferry also is recognized for the historical significance of its designer and builder, Oakley J. Hall, founder of San Diego Marine.
“These ferries are more than boats,” says Brad Engel, president of Flagship Cruises & Events, “they are living history.”
The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places.
The park service’s designation comes at a time when the company continues to operate the Silvergate and the Cabrillo and moves toward replacing the now historic vessels with fully electric, zero-emissions ferries set to launch in 2026.
Flagship says it remains dedicated to preserving the region’s working waterfront and maritime history, including the stewardship and active operation of historic vessels such as the Silvergate and Cabrillo.
“The Silvergate and Cabrillo have carried millions of passengers across San Diego Bay and have stood as constant witnesses to the city’s growth and transformation,” said Engel. “We are honored to see their legacies recognized at the national level.”
Decades-long ferry service
According to the Coronado Historical Association, Flagship Cruises & Events was formerly called the Star & Crescent Company.
The company began ferry service to Coronado’s North Island Naval Air Station in 1918 at a cost of 5 cents per ride, earning the nickname of “Nickel-Snatcher” through the 1940s.
The association says the company dates back to the late 1800s as one of the first operational ferry services in the region around the same time as the San Diego-Coronado Ferry Company.
By 1915, the Star & Crescent Company operated a 16-boat fleet providing transportation between Point Loma, Imperial Beach and the Coronado Islands.
In 1941, the company launched the Silvergate to manage an increased load of passengers to the Naval Air Station.
The present day Silvergate pays homage to a 19th century ferry.
The Silver Gate, built in Coronado, provided ferry service around the same time as the opening of the Hotel Del Coronado in 1888. It was “one of the first propeller-driven ferries on the west coast” but it was short-lived and soon became a decommissioned ferry, anchored near the Hotel and served as a clubhouse, theater, dance hall, and a church on Sundays, according to a city report.
Decades later, tapping into a name that maintained a presence in community minds, the company rolled out the Silvergate (1940) at a time when ferry transportation remained a popular means to reach the City of Coronado.
Between 1969 and 1987, the company paused the operation of the ferry due to a state ban of the service within a 10-mile radius of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge’s toll crossing.
According to the association, the Cabrillo was designed in 1964 by Capt. Hall (1878-1967), the company’s owner at that time.
The association says Hall expanded the company’s services to include whale-watching tours, narrated harbor tours, nighttime dinner cruises, dining and dancing cruises on the bay, tugs, shipbuilding and petroleum acquisition in the region as well as sport fishing excursions.
The association says the Cabrillo is Hall’s last tangible legacy. Initially used for excursion cruises like harbor tours, the Cabrillo was extended bringing the total length to 88 feet in 1968. The company transitioned the Cabrillo to ferry service in 1987.
That year, on July 1, the company resumed its passenger service after the bonds for the San Diego-Coronado Bridge were paid off.
“These vessels represent an irreplaceable part of our maritime heritage, serving as reminders of an era when ferries were the primary way of connecting people, commerce, and culture across San Diego Bay,” said Vickie Stone, curator of collections at the Coronado Historical Association, in a statement. “The preservation of these two ferries will ensure that future generations can appreciate the craftsmanship, innovation and civic importance that these boats embody.”
To learn more about Flagship Cruises & Events’ historic ferries, visit: https://www.flagshipsd.com/.
