Yerba Buena Island

:For other uses of the term Yerba Buena see Yerba Buena (disambiguation).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yerba Buena Island sits in the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland, California. The Yerba Buena Tunnel runs through its center and connects the western and eastern spans of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. It has had several other names over the decades: Sea Bird Island, Wood Island, and Goat Island.

Related Topics:
San Francisco Bay - San Francisco - Oakland, California - San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Located west of the island is Blossom Rock, a treacherous submerged stone which caused a number of shipwrecks, until ships learned to use some nearby redwood trees as navigation helpers to avoid it. The site of trees (now located in Redwood Regional Park) is a California Historical Landmark.

Related Topics:
Redwood Regional Park - California Historical Landmark

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As the natural base for the artificial Treasure Island, Yerba Buena and Treasure Islands formed the Treasure Island Naval Base, beginning during World War II until 1996, when it and the Presidio of San Francisco were decommissioned, and opened to public control, under stipulations.

Related Topics:
Treasure Island - Treasure Island Naval Base - World War II - 1996 - Presidio of San Francisco

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The first California legislature on February 18, 1850, passed an act establishing the boundaries of San Francisco County and named the island Yerba Buena, after the former name for the city of San Francisco.

Related Topics:
California - February 18 - 1850 - San Francisco County - Yerba Buena

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Officially, the island was Yerba Buena until 1895, when on a decision by the U.S. Geographic Board, it was changed to "Goat Island." It was changed back to "Yerba Buena" on June 3, 1931. "Yerba Buena" literally means "Good Herb" in English.

Related Topics:
1895 - U.S. Geographic Board - June 3 - 1931

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The island is currently part of District 6 of the City and County of San Francisco.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~