M.V. SANTA ROSA
Also known as: Santa Rosa Ferryboat
Why it's listed
Built in 1926-27 at Alameda, California, the Santa Rosa was a double-ended motor ferry, 251 feet long, designed to carry about 65 cars and 1,200 passengers. She entered service between Sausalito and San Francisco for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad and was the first of a six-boat class. She was the first steel-hulled diesel-electric ferry on San Francisco Bay, and her Sperry electric-hydraulic steering was advanced for its time. After consolidation of the auto ferry fleet in 1929, she served several routes until 1939, when the Bay Bridge ended the need for auto ferries. She was sold to the Puget Sound Navigation Company, rebuilt as a single-ended vessel, and renamed Enetai. She ran in Washington waters until 1968. Only 14 of 120 Bay ferries are known to survive. Returned to the Bay, she is being rehabilitated to look much as she did originally, though an enclosed upper passenger deck will remain.
Significance in brief: She was the first steel-hulled diesel-electric ferryboat to operate on San Francisco Bay, and her design, notably the Sperry electric-hydraulic steering, marked a technological advance. She is one of only 14 surviving ferryboats out of 120 that served the Bay between 1850 and 1939. She also served the auto ferry fleet in the years before the Bay bridges opened.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000469, listed May 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Howard Terminal, Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | May 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000469 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | General Engineering & Drydock Co., Alameda, California |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Maritime History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant during rehabilitation; work under way to reverse the 1941 modifications and restore her close to original appearance, with public access, museum and commercial uses planned. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.79891, -122.39431 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5445525
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.