Two longtime fixtures of San Diego Bay’s working waterfront have earned national recognition, as the historic passenger ferries Silvergate and Cabrillo were recently added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The designation honors the vessels’ enduring roles in regional maritime transportation and recreation, recognizing decades of service ferrying passengers between San Diego and Coronado and offering sightseeing tours around San Diego Bay. Both ferries remain operational today and are owned and operated by Flagship Cruises & Events.
Unlike many vessels listed on the National Register, Silvergate and Cabrillo are not museum pieces. They continue to carry passengers daily and can often be seen docked between Broadway Pier and Navy Pier or underway on bay tours — serving as living examples of Southern California’s maritime heritage.
Built in 1940, the Silvergate was originally designed to provide passenger ferry service between San Diego and Coronado at a time when the bay crossing was an essential commute. That role continued until the completion of the Coronado Bridge in 1969, which significantly reduced demand for ferry transportation. Following the bridge’s opening, the vessel transitioned to harbor excursions and educational programs, before resuming ferry service in 1987.
The Silvergate measures 65 feet in length and can accommodate up to 219 passengers. Its name honors an earlier ferry built in 1888, reinforcing the vessel’s connection to San Diego’s long maritime lineage. According to the Department of the Interior, the ferry’s historical significance stems from its role in maritime transportation during World War II as well as its long-standing contribution to recreation on San Diego Bay.
The Cabrillo, built in 1964, was designed specifically for passenger service and represents a later era of postwar maritime recreation. The 85-foot ferry can carry up to 261 passengers and has remained a staple of bay tours and excursion service for more than six decades.
Part of the Cabrillo’s recognition is tied to its designer and builder, Oakley J. Hall, a naval architect whose work is considered locally significant by the San Diego Historical Resources Board. Hall’s influence on the vessel’s design and construction contributed to its architectural and cultural importance within San Diego’s maritime landscape.
Flagship Cruises & Events marked the designation by installing a commemorative plaque aboard the Cabrillo, a moment shared publicly through a video posted to social media. The recognition underscores the company’s role in maintaining and operating historic vessels while continuing to integrate them into modern harbor activity.
For San Diego, the listing of Silvergate and Cabrillo on the National Register reflects a broader appreciation for maritime assets that have shaped the region’s waterfront identity. From wartime transportation to decades of recreational use, the ferries have witnessed the evolution of San Diego Bay while remaining active participants in its daily life.
As working vessels with deep historical roots, Silvergate and Cabrillo stand as rare examples of maritime history still afloat, still operational, and still connecting people to the bay for which they’ve long served.