Union Square

A collection of 21 posts

North Beach

Home for Inebriates

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

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 #68

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

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #66

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

1906 earthquake

Earthquake Dog

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

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #62

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

Christmas

Tetrazzini's Christmas Gift

In 1910, the world's greatest soprano gave San Francisco a present.

Union Square

The White House

Remembering a store and a man that every San Franciscan once knew.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #53

Bars, hogs, mansions, and memories: a typical San Francisco Grab Bag from Woody.

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #49

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but before the fire, and one man trying to get home.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #43

Emporium roof rides, the Human Jukebox, and Dianne Feinstein: a classic San Francisco Grab Bag, right?

Cathedral Hill

Restless Bones

The moving sarcophagus of Thomas Starr King.

Grab Bag

Two Years of San Francisco Story: Grab Bag #35

Celebrating two years of San Francisco Story with an Anchor Steam at Temple Bar, a little car polo, and a lot of gratitude.

Pacific Heights

One Million Bricks

Was San Francisco's massive Calvary Presbyterian church moved more than 20 blocks in 1901? Yes and no.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Grab Bag #027

Tales from one of San Francisco's pre-1906-earthquake dens of iniquity, plus taxi cabs and sheep.

Union Square

Street Cameraman

One man, one million photos taken on the streets of San Francisco.

Civic Center

The Queen of California and the Booster Ball

All a sluggish San Francisco needed in 1921 was some pageantry and one killer dance party.

Union Square

Castle on the Square

The mini-citadel which once faced Union Square.

Mission Dolores

A Day Trip on the Mission Road, Part 1

In the 1850s, San Francisco Sunday recreation meant getting across sand dunes and marsh to the Mission.

Paid-members only

Grab Bag

Woody Grab Bag #007

A history of where you can put your car...and more.

Union Square

Hallowed Ground on Sutter Street

From the time of its dedication on March 23, 1866, the old Temple Emanu-El was a landmark of 19th-century San Francisco.