On the morning of Friday 31 July 1846 the Brooklyn sailed boldly into the mist-shrouded headlands of San Francisco Bay. The arrival of this small band of Mormon Pioneers caused some excitement among the inhabitants of Yerba Buena. In 1996 the reenactment of the voyage and a variety of activities around the Bay Area generated excitement among the inhabitants and decendants.
In June an exhibit featuring Sam Brannan's printing press opened at the Maritime Museum. It was one of the most popular exhibits ever shown at the museum, According to Richard Everett the museum's Exhibit Director.