Oct 1989
A new haul-out appears
A few California sea lions begin hauling out at PIER 39 shortly after the Loma Prieta earthquake.
Origin Story
How K-Dock became San Francisco's loudest landmark.
The PIER 39 sea lions are a wild accident that became civic identity: a post-earthquake haul-out, a marina conflict, and a public decision to let the animals stay.
Jan 1990
The docks get loud
The group grows quickly and takes over K-Dock, turning a marina problem into a public wildlife landmark.
2009
The migration mystery
Large numbers leave the docks, a reminder that this is a wild migration story rather than a fixed exhibit.
2024
Record crowd
PIER 39 reports an all-time count above 2,100 sea lions during May-June.
2026
Chonkers takes the rail
A Steller sea lion nicknamed Chonkers becomes the oversized sea-lebrity visitors hope to spot.