Despite the devastation of 1906, historic buildings and artifacts survive from every period of San Francisco's history. This lively narrative of The City from its very beginnings all the way through the earthquake of 1989 tells how to find the historic buildings, sights, and artifacts that make that history come alive.
Just a few of the things that you will find in Historic San Francisco are the locations of, and the fascinating histories behind:
A 1623 Spanish cannon that once guarded the entrance to the Golden Gate.
A gold nugget discovered by James Marshall at Coloma in January 1848.
The last surviving Nob Hill mansion.
Relics from the 1906 earthquake and fire, including clusters of melted dimes and pennies found in the ruins.
Illustrated with more than 70 photographs, maps, and engravings, Historic San Francisco also has capsule biographies of ten San Franciscans, and historical walking tours of downtown San Francisco, Chinatown, Nob Hill, and Haight-Ashbury.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...a wonderfully concise one-volume history of the city...in a remarkably accessible and enjoyable format." --San Francisco Chronicle
About the Author
Rand Richards is a San Francisco-based historian, author, and lecturer. Two of his books are local bestsellers: Historic San Francisco: A Concise History and Guide and Historic Walks in San Francisco: 18 Trails Through the City's Past. He has lectured before many groups, including the California Historical Society, the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society, and the San Francisco History Association. The latter organization recently awarded him their Oscar Lewis Award for his contributions to knowledge of San Francisco history.
