SAN FRANCISCO WAS THE CITY, THE WATERFRONT WAS WHERE THE WORK OF THE CITY WAS DONE
CAPTAIN FRED KLEBINGAT

KLEBINGAT RECALLS THE CITY FRONT

CAPTAIN FRED KLEBINGAT WAS 24 YEARS OLD WHEN THE PANORAMA AT THE RIGHT WAS MADE FROM THE FERRY TOWER. HE HAD SAILED INTO SAN FRANCISCO IN 1908, AS A SEAMAN-DONKEYMAN ON THE S.N. CASTLE. IN 1979, AT THE AGE OF 90, HE WALKED THE CITY FRONT RECALLING LIFE THROUGH THE YEARS ON WHAT WAS EAST STREET IN HIS YOUTH. HE STUDIED THE FOUR-PART 1913 PANORAMA: "WELL, IT WAS LIKE THIS, YOU SEE." AND THE CAPTAIN WAS OFF ON A FRESH MEMORY.
Over the years, starting in 1953, Karl Kortum, Director of the San Francisco Maritime Museum, listened intently to Captain Klebingat, setting down the captain’s detailed recollections of 57 years at sea – mostly in the Pacific, "My home from home." From seaman to captain of square-rigged vessels in the South Seas; he mastered a range of vessels, from Hollywood yachts to Liberty ships. Captain Klebingat died in Coos Bay, Oregon, aged 95 – his words set here in italics are the real thing - "Well, maybe I was wrong 2% of the time.

[The text below the image is too small and unrecognizable, but probably refers to the collage of the 4 images that make up the image on the sign including the quotes in italics, by the captain]

Captain Fred Klebingat (1889-1985), born in Germany and naturalized in the United States in 1914, was a lifelong sailor, and is known for documenting his travels in collections of notes and photographs.

In the current sign, he refers to the panorama seen from the ferry building Click for sign's details.

The image in the center of the sign is shown here enlarged Click for a larger image

In the photo from which the sign was taken, you can see what the area looks like today. Click for a larger image