Coronado Ferry Landing & Historic Pier

The maritime genesis of Coronado began at the foot of First Street. In April 1886, founders Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story drove the first wooden pilings into the bay floor to establish the Coronado Ferry Company. In 1888, the grand side-wheel paddle steamer Silver Gate began passenger service for five cents, complete with mahogany benches, bevel-glass salon windows, and an orchestra.

Passengers disembarking at the First Street slip were greeted by steam locomotives of the Coronado Railroad, which carried guests down Orange Avenue directly to the carriage entrance of Hotel del Coronado. For decades, the ferry slip functioned as the central portal for all building supplies, fresh produce, and arriving tourists destined for the Crown City.

For over eight decades, the ferries carried commuters, school children, and visiting dignitaries across the harbor until the Coronado Bridge opened in August 1969. In 1987, pedestrian ferry service returned to this revitalized landing. Today, hourly passenger ferries continue this maritime tradition, offering an unrivaled skyline panorama across San Diego Bay.

Modern visitors at the Ferry Landing can trace the original shoreline alignment at Centennial Park, where commemorative plaques mark the historic rail spur and passenger slips. The gentle harbor breeze and shimmering waterfront vistas provide an authentic Victorian arrival experience before embarking southward along the historic route.