Pier 70 Time Machine Museum Opened in Dogpatch
The free 4,000-square-foot exhibit in Building 12 is now open to the public on weekends.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Historical
Live Poll
Do you believe preserving local industrial history is important as your neighborhood changes?
Dogpatch residents and visitors now have a new way to explore local history with the opening of the Pier 70 Time Machine museum. Founders Peter Linenthal and Bill Perez have transformed 4,000 square feet in Building 12 into a public space dedicated to the area's industrial and cultural heritage.
Why it matters
As the Dogpatch neighborhood undergoes rapid development, the museum serves to preserve the memory of its industrial past and the legacy of the Ramaytush Ohlone tribes. Founders hope the free space will keep these stories accessible to the public during the area's ongoing transformation.
The new museum occupies 4,000 square feet of space at Pier 70, highlighting history spanning back 1,000 years to the original Ramaytush Ohlone inhabitants. Expansion plans for future interactive exhibits remain currently under development.
The players
Peter Linenthal
He is a co-founder of the Pier 70 Time Machine who contributed his personal historical collection to the exhibit.
Bill Perez
He is a co-founder of the museum who helped merge historical assets to create the industrial displays.
The details
Peter Linenthal and Bill Perez founded the museum by merging their private collections to showcase industrial artifacts, shipbuilding history, and the story of the former Irish Hill neighborhood. The museum is currently housed in the restored Building 12 at Pier 70. Visitors can access the collection for free, with founders planning to introduce more interactive components in the future.
Timeline
1,000+ years ago: Ramaytush Ohlone tribes occupied Potrero Point.
1930s-1960s: Dr. Jean Pierre Cantou maintained a local dental practice.
October 2026: The museum officially opened to the public.
Fridays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Weekly operating hours.
Saturdays noon to 4 p.m.: Weekly operating hours.
Across the Bay
The Pier 70 Time Machine follows the precedent set by local adaptive reuse projects like those at the Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard. It works to maintain neighborhood identity even as large-scale industrial waterfront development reshapes the surrounding cityscape.
You can now visit the museum for free during their weekly hours on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. The space is located inside Building 12 at Pier 70, offering a look at neighborhood history that is open to all residents.
The takeaway
Take the time to explore how the Dogpatch industrial landscape evolved from its earliest indigenous roots to its shipbuilding peak. Check the current exhibits in Building 12 this weekend to see which local historical narratives the founders are highlighting.
Further reading
Discover more about the city's past by visiting the San Francisco Historical section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Bay Area.
Live Poll
Do you believe preserving local industrial history is important as your neighborhood changes?
