Berkley Ferry Remodel

Living Histories

As part of the Maritime Museum’s expansion, the historic Berkeley ferry underwent a renovation that modernized its exhibition spaces while also preserving the historical character of the ship.

Nowadays, the Berkeley continues its hospitable role as a meeting space while also acting as a living historical site. The interior’s original flooring and woodwork date back to the Berkeley’s launch in the 1890s, which inspired much of the interiors.

  1. Lobby

  2. Restrooms

  3. Conservation Room

  4. General Exhibition

  5. Temporary Exhibition

  6. Theater

  7. Library

  8. Staff Offices

  9. Cafe

  10. Event Terrace

Floorplan

Floor plans of a building, showing different levels with rooms, seating arrangements, and designated areas.

Berkeley’s Cafe is split across Decks 2 and 3. Deck 2 is the cafe’s primary space, offering a relaxing atmosphere in the historically inspired ambiance of a Parisian outdoor cafe. Deck 3 is an event space surrounding a ferry’s pilot tower, serving as a living history exhibit where people can walk through and peer at the helm. This terrace also serves as an intimate space for museum workshops and private events.

Sectional diagram of a multi-level outdoor deck area with seating, stairs, and a small pavilion, featuring three deck levels labeled Deck 2 and Deck 3, with people standing and walking.

The Cafe

A rooftop gathering of diverse young women and men sitting at outdoor tables under large white umbrellas, with notebooks, colorful pens, and art supplies, against a blue sky and ocean background.
A woman in a patterned orange dress stands at a bakery counter, talking to a staff member while another staff member prepares coffee behind the counter in a cafe.

The Lobby

Berkeley’s revamped library balances old-world academic charm with modern spaces for reading and collaborative research on all things nautical and historical.

Room with large windows, teal armchairs, wooden shelves with books, decorative ships, and an anchor on the wall, featuring two people kneeling and talking.

Exhibit Galleries

Berkley’s exhibition spaces have been modernized with the latest in gallery features to ensure the best experience for visitors.

Woman with a black bag observing artifacts displayed in a museum exhibit
People at a museum looking at an exhibit of a traditional canoe displayed on a white platform.

The Library

Berkley’s exhibition spaces have been modernized with the latest in gallery features to ensure the best experience for visitors.

People reading and talking in a cozy library room with teal walls, large windows, wooden ceiling, green velvet sofa, and built-in bookshelves filled with books.
Room set up for a movie screening with ten brown chairs facing a large screen showing a person making a hand gesture with a sunset in the background, surrounded by teal curtains and patterned teal walls.

The theater transports museum patrons to a turn-of-the-century screening room with some maritime references, which also doubles as another engaging space to spark conversation and curiosity.

The Theater