San Francisco History

Links

1906 Earthquake & Fire
1989 Earthquake
Alcatraz
Architecture
Blogs and Podcasts
Books (online)
Businesses
Cable & Street Cars
Churches
Clubs
Gay, Lesbian
General
History Groups
Hospitals
Hotels
Images
Labor

Landmarks
Magazines
Maps & Views
Media
Military
Museums
Neighborhoods
Orphanages
Property
Railroads
Schools
Sports
Streets
Theaters
Timelines
Tours

Cool Sites

Cliff House Project—A site dedicated to Adolph Sutro's Victorian Cliff House.

Sparkletack—A podcast dedicated to San Francisco History.

San Francisco Memories—A visual scrapbook of various events and structures in San Francisco's history.

Calisphere - A collection of images from the University of California.

General

America Hurrah - Images and text on the history of San Francisco and California.
Bay Area 2000 - KRON's documentary series about San Francisco's first 150 years. Includes information per decade and a history quiz.
Books about California - Books about California, including etexts, and publishers lists. Includes San Francisco publishers and books about the City.
San Francisco Bay Area Freeway Development - History of San Francisco Bay Area Freeway Development with maps.
California Shipwrecks - Articles about California shipwrecks plus pictures of artifacts, underwater video, an online database of ship wrecks, and a list of links from the California State Lands Commission.
1990 Census of Population and Housing - Population and housing statistics from the 1990 census. Presented by UC Berkeley.
Critical Mass History - History of the monthly bicylist protest through the streets of the City.
Don't Call it Frisco Test - A quiz of San Francisco knowledge by Bob Tuce.
Encyclopedia of San Francisco - A project from the San Francisco Museum & Historical Society. Includes a timeline, gallery, bios, etc.
The Farallones - History of the islands from 1603.
Financial Women's Association of San Francisco - History of the Financial Women's Association from 1956.
Fisherman's Wharf - A brief history of Fisherman's Wharf.
Fisherman's Wharf 1870-1930 - History of Fisherman's Wharf from the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park site.
Gold Rush Trail - Walk San Francisco's Gold Rush Trail, an outdoor museum of San Francisco history.
Golden Gate International Exposition 1939-1940 - History of the GGIE held on Treasure Island.
Heart of the City - Includes various sections on the City's cultural history, along with a street origin guide, written by journalist Hank Donat.
History of the San Francisco Boy Scouts - History of the SFBAC - Boy Scouts of America - San Francisco Bay Area Council.
HistorySmith - The website for Jim Smith's excellent book, "San Francisco's Lost Landmarks", 2005.
Hoppers Hands - The story behind infamous Hoppers Hands sign at Fort Point.
Horse and Buggy Days in San Francisco - Horse and Buggy Days in San Francisco. Old ads and photos from Larkins and Co., 1865-1913 carriage makers.
Iceberg at the Golden Gate - An article about Henry Washington Dodge, a survivor of the Titanic disaster, by Jan C. Nielsen.
Intersections: True Tales of San Francisco - Various stories on "sex, madness, blood lust and nobility."
Jewish Life in San Francisco, 1860 - A passage about Jewish life from "From Three Years in America," 1862.
The Maritime Heritage Project: Gold Rush Ships, Passengers, Captains - A non-profit organization dedicated to preserving shipping history from the mid-1800s to the turn of the Century.
Mayors of San Francisco photos - Photos from the San Francisco Public Library History Center.
Mechanics' Institute Library - A general interest library in the San Francisco business district, from 1854.
Memories of San Francisco - A site dedicated to San Francisco's Lost Landmarks, by Jim Smith.
Museum of the City of San Francisco - Home page of the Museum of the City of San Francisco, with exhibits and links on practically every aspect of local history.
Muwekma Ohlone - Official website of the Muwekma Ohlone Indian Tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Panama Pacific International Exposition 3D - Stereographs hosted by the San Francisco Exploratorium.
Pier 70 - History and current condition of the oldest operating civilian shipyard in the United States.
Playland Amusement Park - The dark side of the Playland Amusement Park.
Postcard Exhibits - Exhibits of early postcards including the Cliff House, Golden Gate International Exposition, etc.
Pre-Prohibition Businesses - A "repository of information on the distillers and wholesalers who made a living from the liquor industry in the years leading up to Prohibition..." including those in San Francisco.
Reflections on Black History - Articles by Thomas Fleming, who writes for the Sun-Reporter, San Francisco's African American weekly.
San Francisco Ferryboats - History of the various ferryboats that serve the Bay, including steam engines, paddlewheels, diesels, catamarans, etc.
San Francisco History - A collection of historical resources for the City and County of San Francisco, California.
San Francisco History Center - Front page for the San Francisco Main Public Library's History Center.
San Francisco History Index - From prehistory to the present. Includes historical maps, neighborhoods, ethnic groups, an email list and forum.
San Francisco Memoirs - The history of San Francisco in the words of people who were in the city between 1835 and the earthquake of 1906.
San Francisco Memories - A visual scrapbook of various events and structures in San Francisco's history.
Shaping San Francisco home page - Shaping San Francisco pioneers an interactive multimedia approach to San Francisco's lost history.
Sin, Fire and Gold! - KQED's documentary about San Francisco's Barbary Coast history, the gold rush, the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Slavonic Cultural Center - History of the Slavonic Cultural Center, a center for cultural programs which reflect the diverse artistic traditions of the Balkans' diverse cultural groups.
The Straight on The Haight - Stories and history of the Haight Ashbury. 60's styles, music, fashions and accessories in picture and text.
Summer of Love - A celebration of the 1967 Summer of Love.
Summer of Love - The 1967 Summer of Love web site tour.
An Unvanished Story: 5,500 Years of History - A local historical study conducted by the U.S. National Park Service and the U.S. General Services Administration.
Women Pioneers in San Francisco Medicine - History of women in San Francisco medicine.
Zurdo Go - San Francisco Destination Guide - Lots of photographs, VR panoramas, information on neighborhoods and attractions as well as hot lists and free self-guided tours.

1906 Earthquake & Fire

1906 Earthquake Centennial Alliance - A collection of academic/research groups, universities, societies, museums, corporations, etc. who will be participating in the 1906 centennial.
1906 Earthquake Photo Gallery - 1906 earthquake photo gallery by earthquakeadvisor.com.
1906 Earthquake Photo Gallery - Photograph gallery of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake by Western Mining History.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake - The introduction from the Carnegie report and a map index of photos from the San Francisco Bay area.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake - Information from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake - Eyewitness accounts of quake and fires that almost destroyed the city in 1906.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake - A teacher's lesson plan to the 1906 earthquake by LearnCalifornia.org
1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - An online exhibit with many pictures presented by the Bancroft Library in Berkeley.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - A copy of the U.S. Geological Survey Report on the San Francisco Earthquake of April 18, 1906.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - Law Enforcement, refugee camps, firefighting & dynamiting, relief efforts, cottages, and camps, Signal Corps, and Chinese displacement, by Presidio of San Francisco.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire - A short page with some photographs, links, and information, by zpub.com
1906 San Francisco Earthquake Newspaper Images - Images from the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper.
The Big 1906 Earthquake and Fire - Photographs from the 1906 disaster by San Francisco Memories.
The Camera Story of the San Francisco Earthquake - Photographs from the book hosted by Golden Nugget Library.
Earthquake Images Database - Images of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire by the National Information Service for Earthquake Engineering.
Earthquake Walk - Descriptions of buildings, etc. that can be seen from an easy walk; by San Francisco Offbeat.
Faultline - An online exhibit by The Exploratorium.
Fireman's Fund Story Bank: One Man's Story Of '06 - One Man's Story of '06, by Orsamus Cole Jr., and published by Fireman's Fund.
Looking Back at the Public's Health - A 1906 Earthquake & Fire special page by the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
The Military and the San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 - Actions of the Navy and Army during the disaster.
Museum of the City of San Francisco: The Great 1906 Earthquake And Fire - Extensive information including photographs and the names of those who perished, earthquake timeline, and Gladys Hansen's Earthquake Almanac.
Quake: 1906 San Francisco Quake - Presented by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Earthquake Hazards Program.
Photos Before The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (from "San Francisco's Great Disaster-1906 Sampler" by Sydney Tyler) - Hosted by Golden Nugget Library.
Photos After The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (from "San Francisco's Great Disaster-1906 Sampler" by Sydney Tyler) - Hosted by Golden Nugget Library.
Real Shock, Monetary Aftershock: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the Panic of 1907 - Presented by Claremont Colleges Working Papers from Claremont Colleges.
San Francisco 1906 Earthquake Marriage Project - Examines the unique phenomenon of marriages occuring immediately after and because of the disaster.
San Francisco After the 1906 Earthquake - Earthquake images from the days after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, including stereographs and anaglyphic (3-dimensional) views.
San Francisco Earthquake, 1906 - Eyewitness accounts of quake and fires that almost destroyed the city in 1906.
San Francisco Films: 1906 Earthquake & Fire - Seven films showing the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and fire. Presented by American Memory, Library of Congress.
San Francisco Earthquake Panoramas - Panoramic images, derived from the American Memory films, showing the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco, California.
San Francisco Earthquake Postcards - Various postcards hosted by Golden Nugget Library.
San Francisco in Ruins - San Francisco in Ruins: The 1906 Aerial Photographs of George R. Lawrence.
SFGov: Visitors: San Francisco's Famous Earthquakes - Information about the 1906 disaster by SFGOV, the official website of the government of the City and County of San Francisco.
Shaken Up - Shaken Up - a story of the 1906 earthquake cottages by outsidelands.org
Source Study of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake - A systematic analysis of the recorded teleseismic body and surface waveforms.
Story of an Eyewitness - Jack London's May 1906 article for Collier's describes his first-hand experiences witnessing the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake.
Survivors of 1906 San Francisco quake share memories - Survivors of 1906 San Francisco quake share memories, from a CNN U.S. News 18 April 1998 article.
Tsunami from 1906 San Francisco Earthquake - A collection of scientific evidence including maps and graphs, by the USGS.
Twain appeals for San Francisco - "Humorist Speaks in His Old Vein for the Benefit of the Fulton Memorial Association." by Twainquotes.com
Understanding Primary Sources: Photographs of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake - A teacher's lesson guide by eduplace.com
Where Can I Learn More About the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake? - A page of information about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake from UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory's Earthquake FAQ.

1989 Earthquake

1989 Oakland Earthquake - Ladder54 photos includes 1989 California Bay Area earthquake collapse of Interstate 880 to I 80 in Oakland. Rescues and recoveries as well.
US Geologic Survey: Loma Prieta Earthquake Photos (DDS-29) - Over 100 high-resolution photographs of the October 17, 1989 earthquake, with index map, available in GIF, JPG, PDF, and PCD versions, as well as fact sheet and related links.

Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island - The National Park Service official site.
Alcatraz Island - A brief history of Alcatraz by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Alcatraz Island - "A collection of unique photographs which historically document the 1969-1971 occupation of Alcatraz Island by Indians of All Tribes, Inc."
Alcatraz History - History of the prison during the penitentiary years.
Escapes from Alcatraz - History of every recorded attempted and successful escape from Alcatraz, while it was an Army prison and Federal penitentiary.
Fortress Alcatraz - When Alcatraz was an Army post, a site by John Martini.
Photographic Tour - A photographic tour by columbiamaryland.com.
Photographic Tour - A photographic tour by virtuar.com.
Post at Alcatraz Island - History, pictures and bibliography of the Army fort by the militarymuseum.com.
Warden Johnston Years - History, maps, prisoner listing, etc. of the Federal penitentiary.

Architecture

Art Deco Society of California - The Art Deco Society of California features information about art, architecture, technology and society during the Art Deco period (1919-1942).
Audiffred Building - The history of the Audiffred Building, built in 1889.
Bernard Ralph Maybeck - Short biography of the architect of the Palace of Fine Arts.
Cliff House Project - A site dedicated to Adolph Sutro's Victorian Cliff House.
Eichler Homes - Lost Eichlers in Diamond Heights.
Fallon Building History - Tim Kelley's history of San Francisco's Carmel Fallon Building, survivor of the quakes of 1906 and 1989.
Friends of 1800 - The Friends of 1800 is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving significant historical buildings, landmarks and the architectural heritage of San Francisco.
Ghirardelli Square - History of one of the most well known historical landmarks in the City.
Golden Gate Park Windmills - An historical timeline of windmills in Golden Gate Park. Part of a campaign to restore them.
History of a San Francisco Landmark House - An 1871 home in the Mission district of San Francisco. Details of the area and restoration information.
How To Research Your San Francisco Building - A list of resources to aid in the research of a San Francisco building.
Painted Ladies - the virtual site for the books showing examples of beautiful Victorian architecture.
San Francisco Architectural Heritage - An organization dedicated to the appreciation of the built environment and understanding of the value of preserving significant San Francisco architecture.
San Francisco Architecture - Profiles on individuals and firms practicing during the first 100 years of San Francisco's growth.
San Francisco Bay Arts & Crafts Movement - A history of the individuals and architecture that define this movement.
San Francisco Cow Palace - History of the Cow Palace from 1915.
San Francisco Victorian Architecture - Some photographs of eminent Victorian residences in San Francisco.
Sutro Tower - History and timeline of the Sutro Tower.
The Victorian Alliance of San Francisco - Preserving Victorian Homes - The Victorian Alliance is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation and restoration of Victorian and other historic structures, particularly within the city of San Francisco.

Blogs and Podcasts

Guided by History - A blog "covering local commemorative events" by Wells Fargo.
History and Kultur - Podcasts by sparkletack spotlighting various historical items.
Up from the Deep (The Hotel Project) - Images from the streets by Mark Ellinger.
Market Street Railway - A blog covering the Market Street Railway.

Books (online)

The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft - Images of the entire collection from this encyclopedia.
Books about California - A large collection of public domain etexts and images.

Businesses

Alioto's Restaurant - founded in 1925 at Fisherman's Wharf.
Alioto-Lazio Fish Company - a women owned and operated fish company at Fisherman's Wharf.
Anchor Brewing Company - Anchor Brewing dates from 1896. This site has info on the Golden Gate Bridge, Telegraph Hill, Shot Towers, and the brewers of San Francisco.
Balboa Cafe - History of the saloon from 1914.
Bike Messengering In San Francisco - History of Bike Messengering since 1894. (via Internet Archive)
The Fabulous Fior - Over 100 Years in an Italian Kitchen - "The Fabulous Fior" tells the history of San Francisco North Beach's Fior d'Italia, America's oldest Italian restaurant, through the lives and recipes of the Italian-American immigrants who built it.
Folgers Coffee History - A brief history of Folgers in San Francisco.
Golden Gate Ferry Fleet History - A short history of ferries in the Golden Gate.
Grocery Stores - Overview of the local grocery stores in San Francisco from 1920 to 199.
Gump's - A short history of this specialty store since 1861.
Moulin Studios - A timeline of a local photography studio from 1872.
Taxis and San Francisco Labor History - The taxicab industry in San Francisco from 1904.

Cable and Street Cars

Cable Car History - A set of black & white postcards showing early cable cars, by America Hurrah.
Cable Car Inventor - Andrew Hallidie - 1873 - A biography of the inventor, presented by the Museum of the City of San Francisco.
Cable Car Lines in San Francisco - A list of the local cable car lines and references to them in literature and on film.
Cable Car Museum - The companion website for the Cable Car Museum; includes general information and a virtual tour.
Cable Cars - Dedicated to information and history about San Francisco's moving landmarks.
Early Film: A trip down Market Street before the fire - 1905 B&W film from American Memory; shows street and cable cars.
Early Film: Market Street before parade, part 1 - 1903 B&W film from American Memory; shows street and cable cars.
Early Film: Market Street before parade, part 2 - 1903 B&W film from American Memory; shows street and cable cars.
1863 Horse Drawn Street Car - A picture and short history of the street car from the California Trolley and Railroad Corporation.
Rice-A-Roni - A brief history by one of most well-known advertisers for the cable cars.

Churches

All Saints' Episcopal Church 100th Anniversary - All Saints'100th Anniversary - History of the church from 1903.
Calvary Armenian Congregational Church - History of Calvary Armenian Congregational Church formed in 1922.
Calvary Presbyterian Church - History of the Calvary Presbyterian Church which was organized in 1854.
First Baptist Church of San Francisco - History of First Baptist Church of San Francisco history founded in 1849.
First Congregational Church of San Francisco - History of the First Congregational Church of San Francisco from 1849.
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco - A chronology of the First Unitarian Church in San Francisco.
Glide Memorial Church - History of the Glide Memorial Church.
Grace Cathedral (Episcopal Church) - Tales from the Crypt - the history of the cathedral structure and community.
Holy Trinity Cathedral - Brief history and news articles of the Holy Trinity Cathedral founded in 1857.
Mission Dolores Catholic Church - History of the Mission San Francisco de Asis (also known as Mission Dolores), the oldest church in the City.
Mission Dolores Catholic Church - More history of the Mission San Francisco de Asis.
Old First Presbyterian Church San Francisco - History of the Old First Presbyterian Church San Francisco since 1849.
Old Saint Mary's Past and Present - History of the Old Saint Mary's Church, built in 1854.
Saint Francis of Assisi Church History - A brief history of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in North Beach which was established in 1849.
Saints Peter and Paul Parish - A brief history of the Saints Peter and Paul Parish in North Beach.
San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church - History of the San Francisco Central Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1871.
St. Brigid Church, San Francisco, CA - History of St. Brigid Catholic Church from 1863.
St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church - History of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church found in 1923.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church - History of St. Luke's Episcopal Church founded in 1868.

Clubs

Bay View Boat Club - History of the Bay View Boat Club.
Bimbo's 365 Club - History of a local San Francisco entertainment club.
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco - Short history of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco founded in 1891.
The Commonwealth Club of California - History of the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum.
The Dolphin Club - San Francisco - History of the Dolphin Swimming and Boating Club, established in 1877.
Harvard Club of San Francisco - The fourth oldest Harvard Club (for Harvard Alumni) in the United States, founded in 1873.
Mechanic's Chess Club - History of the Mechanics' Institute Chess Club.
Norwegian Club Information - Brief history of the Norwegian Club which formed in 1897.
San Francisco Bay Club - The Bay Club was the first downtown, co-ed, multi-recreation club in the country.
San Francisco Motorcycle Club - 99 Years of History, from 1904.
San Francisco Tsunami Swim Club - A club composed of San Francisco's gay and lesbian swimmers.
Skating Club of San Francisco - The history of the Skating Club of San Francisco since 1932.
Swedish Club of San Francisco and Bay Area - Short history of the Swedish Club formed in 1913.

Gay, Lesbian

GLBT Historical Society - A group dedicated to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender history.

History Groups

Barbary Coasters, The - A group dedicated to San Francisco's African-American history.
Fort Point and Presidio Historical Association - Historical preservation and education nonprofit association for the Presidio of San Francisco National Historic District, which is a former military post. Membership information and background on pending issues.
Market Street Railway - A non-profit support group for the San Francisco Municipal Railway's historic transit fleet.
San Francisco Historical Society - A non-profit organization that preserves, interprets and presents the historical heritage of San Francisco.
San Francisco History Association - A non-profit organization dedicated to remembering our San Francisco's colorful past.

Hospitals

Chinese Hospital of San Francisco - A very brief history of the Chinese Hospital from 1900.
History of Ft. Miley and VA Hospital - Hitory of the site from 1774 and its various uses to the current VA hospital.
Kaiser Permanente - History of the organization from its creation by Dr. Garfield.
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital - A timeline from 1905.
St. Mary's Medical Center - Historical timeline of the center from 1854.
Stanford School of Medicine - History of this school from 1858. Includes information on Lane Hospital and Cooper College.
UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion - History of the hospital from 1887.
UCSF School of Medicine - History of the school from 1848.
VA Medical Center - San Francisco - History of this hospital from 1774.

Hotels

The Chateau Tivoli - History from 1892.
The Fairmont - History from 1902.
Hotel Boheme - History from 1880s.
Hotel Drisco - History from 1903.
The Huntington - History from 1924.
Palace Hotel - History from 1875.
Palace Hotel - Another site with history from 1875.
The Queen Anne Hotel - History from 1890.
San Remo Hotel History - History from 1906.
Sir Francisco Drake Hotel - History from 1928.
St. Francis - History from 1902.

Images

American Memory - A collection of digitized documents and images from the Library of Congress, includes many of San Francisco.
California Digital Library - Digital information from the University of California.
California Heritage Collection - California Heritage Collection: large collection of San Francisco images from the Bancroft Library.
California Historical Society - Photography Collections Index at the California Historical Society in San Francisco.
Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection - A voluminous collection of images by Charles Cushman, from 1938 to 1969.
Fireman's Fund Image Bank: San Francisco History - Various images from the history of San Francisco.
Golden Gate International Exposition Photo Gallery - A photo gallery presented by New Deal Network.
Images of San Francisco 1875 to 1906 - Photographs of San Francisco including the complete Muybridge Panorama of 1878. Thumbnails enlarge to full images.
Lawrence & Houseworth Photograph Database - Collection of 1,495 historical photographs of California and Nevada from the Society of California Pioneers.
Picture History (San Francisco) - Pictures in a digital library of high quality images and footage for American history.
Retrofuturo - Has a picture of what San Francisco might look like in the future.
SFGov Photo Gallery - Collections presented by the City of San Francisco, including: General San Francisco History, 1906 Quake and Fire, Fire Department History, Chinatown, Contemporary, Bay Bridge, Buildings, Cable Cars, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Port of San Francisco, Modern Art Museum (MOMA), San Francisco Skyline, and City Hall.
San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection - Collection from the San Francisco Public Library, covering San Francisco history from the 1850s to the present.
San Francisco Streets - Shelf list of photographs (of streets) at the California Historical Society.
Seamless City - San Francisco - "Seamless City is a continuous visual image of the city made up of sequential photos of a walk through the city shot from a pedestrian point of view."
Stereoviews of Carleton Watkins - A large collection of stereoviews created by Carleton Watkins and includes many of San Francisco.
U.S. National Archives - The Archival Research Catalog (ARC) includes a collection of digital documents and images, includes many of San Francisco.

Labor

History of the IBEW Local 6 - History of electricity in San Francisco and the role of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
J. Paul Leonard Library: Labor Archives & Research Center - Dedicated to the preservation of historical materials of labor activity.

Landmarks

California Landmarks - San Francisco County - List of the California State Historical Landmarks in the City, along with photos of some of the plaques.
Historic Landmarks - List of local landmarks compiled from national, state and city sources.
San Francisco Landmarks - A complete listing of San Francisco landmarks with dates of official landmark designation.
San Francisco Landmarks - A "photographic archive of San Francisco's historic landmarks as they appeared at the beginning of the third millenium." Presented by Noe Hill.

Magazines

Hutchings’ Illustrated California Magazine 1-5 (1856-1861) - selected articles of the magazine by www.yosemite.ca.us.

Maps and Views

A9.com Maps - Street map with street level photographs (2003-2005).
GlobeXplorer ImageAtlas - Aerial photographs to house level dated 2000 by Globexplorer.
Google Maps - Street maps and aerial photos by Google.
MapTech - USGS topographic maps, NOAA nautical maps, aeronautical charts, and aerial photos.
TerraFly - Aerial photos from USGS served up by Florida International University.
TerraServer USA - Aerial photographs (1993 and 2004) and topographic map (1978) by microsoft.com.
TerraServer.com - Satellite and aerial photos from terraserver.com. Photo dates include 1987, 1993, 1999, 2002 and 2002.
Topozone - USGS topographic maps.

Aerial Photography Online Flights - Includes San Francisco Bay Area in 1968, and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Approaches in 1931.
California Coastal Records Project - Aerial Photographs of the California Coastline, including along San Francisco.
California Views - A collection of photographs for California including San Francisco, from the Pat Hathaway Photo Collection.
Calisphere - A collection of images from the University of California.
Chinatown 1885 - A colorful map of Chinatown, San Francisco.
City Views - Many early city views from stereoviews.
Digital Atlas of San Francisco Bay Area, 1990 - Maps of population, citizenship, income, poverty, and education. By the American Cities Atlas Project.
Early City Views - Eight views: 1837, 1846, 1847, 1849 (2),1850, 1855, and 1856.
Historic Topographic Maps of California - Web access to various historic topographic quadrangles produced by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1895 to the present.
Historical Map of San Francisco, 1849 - Official map of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical Map of San Francisco, 1854 - From the Bancroft collection.
Historical Map of San Francisco, 1915 - U.S. Geological Survey map (1,403K) (American Memory collection).
Historical Maps of San Francisco, 1850 to 1926 - Maps and aerial photos from the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Includes maps for 1851, 1852, 1859, 1861, 1869, 1873, 1874, 1890, 1905, 1915 and 1926. Option available to overlay maps and photos.
Historical View of San Francisco, 1846-7 - A color bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, 1856 - A bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, 1862 - A view of the city looking from Russian Hill (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, 1868 - A color bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, 1896 - A color bird's-eye view of the city (Golden Nugget Library).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1851 - A view of the city looking southeast from Telegraph Hill (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1860 - A hand-colored bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1864 - A bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1875 - A bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1876 - A bird's-eye view of the city (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco, c. 1878 - A bird's-eye view of the city, looking southwest (American Memory collection).
Historical View of San Francisco Peninsula, 1851 - Route of the Pacific and Atlantic Rail Road between San Francisco, & San Jose.
The Map Room - Maps & Views from 1849, 1916, and 1968.
Panama-Pacific International Exposition Map - 1915 - Map of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition grounds.
Perry-Castañeda Map Collection - From UT Library, includes 1970 Atlas map, 1901 Milk Map, and 1915 USGS map.
Presidio Military Reservation map - 1847 - The military reservation in 1847 as laid out by Captain Folsom.
Presidio of San Francisco - 1820 - From Eldredge's "The Beginnings of San Francisco."
San Francisco Bay History - Various photos, illustrations and maritime charts.
San Francisco Bay Map - 1826 - Captain Beechey's nautical map of the San Francico Bay.
San Francisco Bay Map - c. 1776 - Font's map of the entrance to the San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Bay Map - c. 1777 - Font's map of explorations, Monterey to San Francisco.
San Francisco Bay Map - c. 1792 - Vancouver's map of the entrance to the San Francisco Bay.
San Francisco Bay Map - 1913 - Pictorial map of the Bay Area.
San Francisco Fire - May 1851 - Map of the May 1851 San Francisco Fire.
San Francisco Map - 1839 - Vioget's survey of Yerba Buena.
San Francisco Midwinter Fair - 1894 - Map of the 1894 San Francisco Midwinter Fair.
San Francisco Panorama - 1878 - Panoramic view of the city by Edward Muybridge, by americahurrah.com.
San Francisco Panorama - 1878 - Two panoramic views of the city by Edward Muybridge, by sanfrancisco.cityviews.us.
San Francisco Population - Maps showing the Growth of San Francisco from 1853-1970, and ethnic maps from the 1980 census.
San Francisco Postcards - Postcards with various views of San Francisco throughout her history, presented by alamedainfo.com.
San Francisco Street Map - 1873 - San Francisco 1873 street map.
San Francisco Street Map -1907 - San Francisco 1907 street map.
San Francisco Street Map - 1925 - San Francisco 1925 street map.
San Francisco Street Map - 1938 - San Francisco 1938 street map.
San Francisco Voting Ward Map -1866 - Map of the various voting wards, by americahurrah.com

Media

Bay Area Radio Museum - A collection of recordings, photographs, etc. reagrding the history of radio broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Before and After the Great Earthquake and Fire, 1897-1916 - Topics in this collection of twenty-six films include the 1906 earthquake, the Panama Pacific Exposition (1915), and a 1903 Chinese funeral.
Internet Archive: Moving Image Archive - A collection of videos from the 20th century.
Radio Broadcasting History, San Francisco - List of personnel from various local radio stations.
San Francisco Bay Area Radio History - History of local radio broadcasting presented by Tangent Sunset.
San Francisco Chronicle newspaper - Reviews the history of a San Francisco newspaper founded by Charles and Michael de Young in 1865 and still in circulation.
San Francisco Radio History - 'Voices Out of the Fog', a history of early radio broadcasting in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Shaping San Francisco - Collection of videos presented by Shaping San Francisco and hosted by Internet Archive.

Military

California Military History - California State Militia and National Guard Unit Histories, including those that were stationed in San Francisco.
California Military Museum - Camp Yerba Buena Island history from 1868.
California State Military Museum - The role of the military during the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
FAS.org - History of the San Francisco Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.
Fort Point National Historic Site - History of the Fort Point (from 1853) by the National Park Service. Fort Point was used by the U.S. Army.
Globalsecurity.org - History of the Treasure Island Naval Air Station from 1941.
Museum of the City of San Francisco - U.S. Navy Operations During the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.
Presidio of San Francisco - History of the Presidio (from 1776) by the National Park Service. The Presidio was the site of Spanish, Mexican and American armies.
San Francisco Maritime National Park Association - History and tour of the USS Pampanito (SS-383), a World War II Balao class Fleet submarine.
San Francisco VA Medical Center - History of Fort Miley from 1774. Occupied by the U.S. Army.
US Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco - History Of Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco from 1903.
Western Neighborhoods Project - Fort Miley/VA Medical Center history.
World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area - Links of places in the National Register of Historic Places involved in World War II.
Zpub.com - History of the San Francisco Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. Includes a timeline and historical photographs.

Museums

California Historical Society - The headquarters, located in San Francisco, accommodates a research library, museum galleries, and a museum store.
De Young Museum - Short history about the museum.
De Young Museum - History of the de Young Museum.
Golden Gate Railroad Museum - Concentrating on steam and passenger road equipment.
Legion of Honor - Short history of the museum.
Museum of Russian Culture and Library - "...documents the lives, work and achievements of Russian émigrés in the west."
Museums at Fort Mason Center - Exhibitions, docent tours, lectures, and workshops present diversity in the arts: Mexicano, Latino, Italian, Italian American and African American arts and culture.
San Francisco Fire Department Museum- An organization for the preservation and restoration of fire apparatus and fire artifacts relating to the history of San Francisco.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park - This unique National Park Service site located at the west end of Fisherman's Wharf, includes the fleet of historic vessels at Hyde Street Pier, the Maritime Museum, and the Maritime Museum Library.
Treasure Island Museum Association - On Treasure Island, exhibitis based on events that happened there, including the 1939 World's Fair and the military.
Virtual Museum of San Francisco - Gladys Hansen's internet museum, with exhibits on the 1906 disaster, Gold Rush, and Golden Gate Bridge.
Wells Fargo History Museum - On the site where Wells Fargo first opened for business in 1852, this museum features various historical exhibits.

Neighborhoods

Alta Plaza - A history of the neighborhood by NoeHill.
Eureka Valley - A history of the neighborhood by NoeHill.
The Fillmore Museum - A virtual museum for the Fillmore district.
Fillmore Street History - A history of the street by the Fillmore Merchants Association.
The Fillmore Museum - Timeline of events on Fillmore Street.
Hunter's Point - History - A timeline and photos for Hunter's Point.
Neighborhood Parks Council - Histories of San Francisco parks, including: Alamo Square, Alta Plaza Park, Aquatic Park, Argonne Playground, Boeddeker Park, Brooks Park, Buena Vista Park, Crocker Amazon Playground, Dolores Park, Duboce Park & Harvey Milk Rec. Center, Edgehill Mountain, Glen Canyon Park, Helen Wills Playground, Holly Park, India Basin Park, Islais Creek, Jackson Playground, Junipero Serra Playground, Lafayette Square Park, McLaren Park, Mountain Lake Park, Palace of Fine Arts, Park Presidio, Pioneer Park, Precita Park, Randall Museum/Corona Heights, Rose Page Mini Park, South Park, South Park Revisited, Saint Mary's Park, Stern Grove/Pine Lake Park, Sunnyside Conservatory, Sunset Recreation Center, Tank Hill, and, Woh Hei Yuen Recreation Center and Park.
Neighborhoods: The Hidden Cities of San Francisco - KQED's television series exploring the history of San Francisco: includes the Castro, Chinatown, Fillmore, and Mission neighborhoods.
Nob Hill History - A short article by Senior World Online.
Russian Hill History - History of the Russian Hill neighborhood, presented by Russian Hill Neighbors (RHN). (via Internet Archive)
Russian Hill - A history of the neighborhood by NoeHill.
Union Street - A brief history of the Union Street area in upper Pacific Heights.
WebCastro: History and Culture - A collection of articles about the history and culture of the Castro district.
Western Neighborhoods Project - Nonprofit organization formed to preserve and document the history and culture of the neighborhoods in western San Francisco.

Orphanages

Mount St. Joseph - St. Elizabeth - Started in 1852 as an orphanage by the Daughters of Charity and now is residential treatment center for adolescents.

Property

How to research your San Francisco building - checklist presented by the San Francisco Public Library.
How to research your San Francisco building - checklist compiled by Jean Kortum, Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, 1993; hosted by San Francisco Public Library.
Research Resources Useful for Researching Historic Buildings - overview presented by William Kostura, 1997; hosted by San Francisco Public Library.
San Francisco City Directories - Online databases and links to other websites with historical city directories.
San Francisco Public Library - List of resources available in the History Center.
San Francisco Parcel - Database of property information, including block and lot (shows year built, property values), zoning, lot area, elected officials, street information, and nearest school and library; presented by the San Francisco Assessor.
San Francisco Planning Department - Collection of zoning maps, and information on historic preservation including a list of San Francisco landmarks.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1899/1900 - Collection of maps indicating information (such as buildings, streets, etc.) for fire insurance purposes.

Railroads

Library of Congress, Railroad Maps - Various maps of San Francisco Bay and California railroads from 1851 to 1883.
Golden Gate Railroad Museum - A nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of steam and passenger railroad equipment, and the interpretation of local railroad history.
Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum - Many pictures, maps, and documentation for this railroad line.
Trains on the San Francisco Bay Bridge - 1945 film.

Schools

A. P. Giannini Middle School - History from 1954.
About Lowell: Lowell History - History from 1856. Also was Union Grammar, San Francisco High School, Boy's High School.
Balboa High School - The Sixties (1960s). Historical pictures from the era.
Burton High School - Short history from 1984.
Galileo High School - History from 1920 for Galileo Academy of Science and Technology.
Gateway High School - History from 1998.
George Washington High School - History from 1867; school opened in 1936.
Golden Gate University - History from the 1850s. Also known as YMCA Night School, YMCA Evening College, and Golden Gate College.
Golden Oldies: high school architecture from its prime - Architectural history of Balboa, Mission, George Washington, Galileo, and Ida B. Wells (Denman Grammar) high schools.
Historic School Records - Student names from yearbooks, etc., for various schools throughout the years.
Lick-Wilmerding High School - History from 1895. Includes bios of Lick, Wilmerding, Lux,and Merrill.
Mercy High School - History from 1952.
New College of California - History since 1970s.
Public Schools - Historical article dated 1879. Includes short histories on most, if not all, schools of the era.
Public Schools - Historical information dated 1867.
Public Schools - Historical article dated 1858.
Roosevelt Middle School - History from 1877. Also know as Lobos Avenue Primary School, Richmond Primary School, and Roosevelt Junior High.
Sacred Heart - History from 1887.
San Francisco Art Institute - History from 1871.
San Francisco Ballet School - History from 1933.
San Francisco Conservatory Of Music - History from 1917. Also know as Ada Clement Piano School.
San Francisco Law School - History from 1909.
San Francisco School - History from 1966.
San Francisco State University - History from 1899.
Saybrook - History from 1969.
University High School - History from 1973.
University of California San Francisco - The school's long tradition reaches back to the very beginnings of the city, and that society laid the foundations for the current academic medical center.
The University of San Francisco - A Brief History of the University of San Francisco from 1855.
University of San Francisco - History from 1853. Also known as St. Ignatius Academy and St. Ignatius College.
Waldorf School - History from 1979.

Sports

Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame - Sponsored by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.
San Francisco 49ers - History of the City's local professional football team.
San Francisco Giants History - History of the City's current professional baseball team.
San Francisco SeaHawks - The short history of the San Francisco SeaHawks, a professional hockey team.
San Francisco Seals - History of the San Francisco professional baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1903 through 1957.

Street Names

San Francisco Streets Named for Pioneers - By the Virtual Museum of San Francisco.
San Francisco Street Names - By John Casey.

Theaters

San Francisco Theaters, Cinemas, Dancehalls, after 1906 - A list with links to available photographs on the internet.
Castro Theatre - History of the Castro Theatre.
Curran Theater - History of the Curran Theater.
Geary Theater - Home of the American Conservatory Theater (ACT). Built in 1910, it was once known as the Columbia Theater.
Golden Gate Theater - History of the Golden Gate Theater.
Orpheum Theater - History of the Orpheum Theater.
Post-1906 San Francisco Theatres, Dancehalls - Includes a list and links to many pictures.
Presentation Theater - History of University of San Francisco's Presentation Theater.
San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation - Dedicated to preserving and maintaining neighborhood theaters in The City.

Timelines

African Americans in California Timeline - Timeline of African Americans in California.
Alcatraz Military Timeline - Timeline of Alcatraz's military history.
The Cable Car Home Page - Anniversaries - A San Francisco timeline with an emphasis on Cable Car history.
Chinatown History - Historical timeline for San Francisco Chinatown.
Chinese American History Timeline - A Chinese American History timeline.
Chinese in California Timeline - History of the Chinese in San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge - Construction history of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Levi Strauss & Co. History - The history of Levi Strauss & Co.
Presidio Timeline - Timeline of the Presidio's history.
San Francisco AIDS Foundation - Timeline of the AIDS Epidemic.
San Francisco City Hall Timeline - History of the San Francisco City Hall.
San Francisco History - A Timeline - A general San Francisco timeline.
San Francisco History - A Timeline - A general San Francisco timeline.
San Francisco Timeline - History of San Francisco Queer Culture.
San Francisco Timeline - 1776 to 1859 - A general San Francisco timeline.
San Francisco Zoo Timeline - History of the San Francisco Zoo.

Tours

San Francisco City Guides - Free walking tours of the City by volunteers.
San Francisco Destination Guide - Includes photographs, VR panoramas and information on neighborhoods and attractions as well as hot lists and free self-guided tours.

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