local history

A collection of 127 posts

Noe Valley

School’s In

San Francisco’s Noe Valley had some schoolhouse growing pains in the 19th century.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #69

The Liberty Bell on the road, a mystery watch, and goodbye to the unique Jane Cryan.

San Francisco Zoo

Zoo Train

When old engine #1294 arrived at the San Francisco Zoo.

Gold Rush

A Room at Clark’s Point

Fremont's Family Hotel held a prominent place in San Francisco in 1849.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #68

An Indian circus, lunch and disco dancing in a greenhouse, and Tiki Bob.

Polk Gulch

The Last of the Lunch Wagons

While not an old streetcar, Grubstake Diner is the last of its kind in San Francisco.

Presidio

National Cemetery

The San Francisco National Cemetery in the Presidio.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #67

Daguerreotype haters, poetry, tanks, blimps, and baseball.

Sutro Baths

Professor Killick Patrols Sutro Baths

A man with rope, tights, and expertise in aquatic arts in 1890s San Francisco.

Portola District

Watching the Water

San Francisco’s last reservoir-keeper cottage.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #66

Revolving table restaurant, sand-dune gliders, Clint Eastwood, and Woody's aunt.

Geneva Car Barn

125 Years of Geneva Car Barn

Celebrating a local landmark of the Excelsior, Ocean View, Ingleside, and Mission Terrace neighborhoods.

1906 earthquake

Earthquake Dog

The terrier who survived both a unique San Francisco tragedy and a sadly common American one.

Pacific Heights

The Last of Tucker Town

Is San Francisco's oldest tract house in Pacific Heights?

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #65

A San Francisco Grab Bag of queer tales, many about shoes...

Richmond District

Exploring Mountain Lake

In 1776, the Spanish arrived in today's San Francisco and camped in my childhood playground.

found photos

Re-exposed

Sam Crow’s 1910s and 1920s photographs are brought into the light.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #64

Discoveries in old photos, arrest stats from 1858, Members Only jackets and Folger's Crystals.

Sunset District

Scrubland Living

In the 1860s, Cornelius Reynolds and his family took on San Francisco's scrubby west side.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #63

Cliff-dwellers of Polk Street, more San Francisco house-moving, and our time-machine goes tiki.

Rincon Hill

Going Down

House-moving in 19th-century San Francisco went in all directions

Members only

Yerba Buena Gardens

Ohlone Sunrise

In 1989, seven ancestors were moved to make way for San Francisco's Yerba Buena Gardens.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #62

Pancake palace, the big orange bridge, a new book, and bowling (again).

Golden Gate Park

Electric Tower

Light shows in Golden Gate Park aren't a new thing.

South of Market

The Last to Know

San Francisco stories end with the last storyteller.