Originally inhabited by the Ohlone people, European settlers first utilized the area for cattle grazing and as a fishing outpost.
As Richmond began to industrialize in the late 19th century, the cove gained prominence for its brick manufacturing, which gave the area its name. The abundant local clay was ideal for brickmaking, a critical component in San Francisco's and surrounding cities’ development. The demand for sturdy building materials was skyrocketing during the region's rapid urbanization and recovery from significant events like the 1906 earthquake. The bricks produced here helped rebuild and expand the growing metropolis, providing the foundations for many iconic buildings and paving the way for future developments.[1]
Bert Clausen (W.B. Clausen), Commodore of the Richmond Yacht Club in 1961, led the search for a permanent home for the club. At the time, the Yacht Club was located on Cutting Boulevard in Richmond, near Canal Street, operating on a month-to-month rental lease with the Santa Fe Railroad Company. This precarious lease motivated the club to seek a more secure location, with the ultimate goal of owning their own property.
Through research into available waterfront properties, Clausen identified a site near a brickyard on the south shoreline of Richmond, owned by the Macdonald-Henshaw group. The property comprised approximately 143 acres, most of which was underwater. In December 1961, Clausen and fellow member Herb Thode made an offer to purchase 14 acres near the Garrard Boulevard entrance.
Starting in 1963, Bert Clausen led the development of the new Yacht Club facility. Surveys were conducted, a harbor layout was designed, and construction began. Floating breakwaters were installed but were soon replaced with permanent ones after the original design proved ineffective.
The harbor was dedicated, with the first boats entering their slips on Sunday, January 31, 1965. Jens Hansen, a Yacht Club member and architect, designed the new clubhouse, which was completed in April 1966. Permanent breakwaters were finished in September 1966, solidifying the Richmond Yacht Club's status and giving rise to the area now known as “Brickyard Cove.”
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