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In 1851, a deep water channel was discovered in Redwood City, which ran into the downtown area.
The development of the channel was a key factor in the commercial growth of Redwood City. As a result, the lumber, shipping and shipbuilding industries sprouted, and put Redwood City ‘on the map’ as an important resource. Known at the time as “The Embarcadero,” the channel had two basins: One was a shallow creek which was the inner basin. The outer basin was deeper water that larger vessels could navigate.
The Embarcadero, which was on Redwood Creek, was also known as the “Turning Basin.”
During the early 1850s lumber was in abundance, and several mills had plenty of stock which was needed in various communities throughout the Bay Area and beyond. With the two basins at The Embarcadero, Redwood City became a key supplier in the commercial and residential development of the Bay Area and Northern California by shipping lumber to a growing population.
Once the logs were hauled down from the local mountains, they were tied together as a raft and headed off to San Francisco and other Bay Area locations.
By the mid-1850’s the lumber industry in Redwood City was booming.
Subsequently, a variety of products were brought to The Embarcadero and shipped throughout the general area, as well as exported, turning Redwood City into a working port.
The Embarcadero also became home to shipbuilders. In fact, in the early twentieth century, the very first ship made from concrete in the U.S. was built and launched in Redwood City.
Everything else is just history
Some of the photos used in this blog are courtesy of the Local History Room, Redwood City's best-kept secret. The Local History Collection covers all aspects of Redwood City's development, from the 1850s to the present day, with particular emphases on businesses, public schools, civic organizations, city agencies, and early family histories. The Local History Room is not affiliated with the Redwood City Public Library, but it is inside it.
