Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Arts & Culture

Saving The Bay: Miracle Workers (1906 - 1959)

The San Francisco Ferry Building opened in 1898 and survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes.
Courtesy of KQED
The San Francisco Ferry Building opened in 1898 and survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes.

Airs Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

Narrated by Robert Redford, this award-winning documentary explores one of America's greatest natural resources – San Francisco Bay. Shot in high definition, "Saving The Bay" consists of four one-hour episodes focusing on the geological, cultural, and developmental history of San Francisco Bay and the larger northern California watershed, from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the Farallon Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The series explores the Bay’s evolution, how it was almost lost to development, and plans for the future, including wetland restoration, increased public access, and balancing the often competing needs of a fragile ecosystem that is the centerpiece of a major urban area.

"Saving The Bay" also tells the story of three women who rallied an entire region to save San Francisco Bay from becoming little more than a river, an inspirational example of how ordinary citizens can have an impact on protecting and enhancing our natural environment.

Advertisement

Episode Three: "Miracle Workers (1906 - 1959)" - The third hour of the series begins with The Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, which accelerated the dispersion of people and industry to the East Bay region. Advances in engineering gave rise to the first of California’s massive water re-distribution projects, paralleling the era of great bridge building. World War II saw the Bay transformed into the greatest shipbuilding center the world had ever known.

"Saving The Bay" is on Facebook.

UP Next: Episode Four: "Save The Bay! (1960 — Present)" will air on Tuesday, August 30 at 11 p.m.

Saving The Bay: The Greatest Shipbuilding Center in the World
Saving The Bay: The Reber Plan: A Big Idea for San Francisco Bay
Video Excerpt: Saving The Bay