local history

A collection of 141 posts

Golden Gate Park

Rallying for the Rosary

In 1961, a lot of people said a lot of Hail Marys in Golden Gate Park's Polo Fields.

West Portal

The End of Empire

Eulogy for a San Francisco Neighborhood Theatre.

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #73

Books, talks, podcasts: a newsy, linksy Grab Bag open to everyone.

Embarcadero

The State Belt

The little railroad that once ran on San Francisco's waterfront.

North Beach

Home for Inebriates

San Francisco's early institution of recovery in North Beach.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #72

Cool-building Grab Bag with a transcontinental bicyclist and freeway tossed in.

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach Pier

From 1894 to 1967, an unusual San Francisco pier served an unusual purpose.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #71

Tommy's Joynt, nickel-in-slot machines, and Revenge of the Goat Carts.

Haight-Ashbury

Branching Out

Answers at San Francisco's oldest public library building.

Bernal Heights

Precita Valley's Park

From garbage-pit-swamp to a Bernal oasis.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #70

Devil's Fiddles, gold baseballs, and Henri's Rollamatic.

Ocean Beach

Last Call at The Gables

In 1972, Eve Connett called it quits at her Ocean Beach bar.

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.