Port Costa, California

Port Costa is a little town along the southern shore of Carquinez Strait, a remnant from a century ago, when this was one of the major grain ports of the world. Nearly four miles of wharves once lined the straits here, after the completion of the rail line through to neighboring Martinez made this the best deep water port for the massive export of the Central Valley agricultural industries. In the 1880's half the ships clearing the Golden Gate were grain ships loaded on the docks of the straits, bound for European markets, via Cape Horn. Later, the railway was continued through to the west, ending the boom for this area. Now Port Costa is separated from the shore by a rail line where trains stream past without slowing down. At Port Costa, some ruined wharves remain, and one of the old grain storage structures is now the Warehouse Cafe, a local hangout.