The first pier

In 1857, the opening of Hopkins port was a milestone for the city's international commerce.

The place was chosen to build the first pier of the city, Hopkins port, where ships from all over the world started to arrive in 1857. New public and private piers were built as years went by.
The piers were basic wood constructions where hundreds of longshoremen carried bags of up to 220 pounds over muddy surfaces or plaques, where fatal accidents occurred frequently.
The construction of the main port, at the beginning of the 20th century, would hide those stories below cobblestones, railroads and warehouses that can still be seen.