James King of William was a prominent, honest journalist who founded the Evening Bulletin to fight corruption. He was shot by a city official he had exposed. It was a banner displayed on buildings mourning King of William’s death in 1856. www.sfcityguides.org

Did you know a Rube Goldberg machine has a real San Francisco address? Built in 1911, this building at 198 Gough Street was commissioned by native SF Rube Goldberg whose name became shorthand for wildly overcomplicated contraptions built to do the simplest of tasks. www.sfcityguides.org

Emperor Norton’s Humble Palace Emperor Norton I declared himself “Emperor of the United States” in 1859 — but his royal residence was a tiny room at the Eureka Lodging House on Commercial Street. A plaque is steps from where the Financial District now stands. www.sfcityguides.org

What the Ferry Building looked like on the inside in the 1950s. The Ferry Building free walking tour shares this building’s history. RSVP: sfcityguides.org/tour/ferry-b...

The Brooklyn was the ship that carried Sam Brannan & 238 Mormons aboard from NY to Yerba Buena (later renamed to San Francisco). Sam Brannan owned 2 general stores and sold mining supplies / camping gear to miners. He was one of the first Millionaires from the gold rush. www.sfcityguides.org

Blue Heron Lake Boathouse Special thanks to Bancroft library for allowing us to repost their photo. Www.sfcityguides.org

Muni Heritage Weekend is back — Sept 19–20! Rises on streetcars, cable cars, and buses spanning 141 years — including the 1896 “Dinky” and the Blackpool Boat Tram. SF City Guides is hosting a guided cable car walking tour as part of the festivities. www.sfmta.com/calendar/mun...

In 2017, this example shows why SF’s cable car lines change their cable so often. The Powell lines to Fisherman’s Wharf get a new cable roughly every 75 days. Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars walking tour sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...

Ocean Beach in the 70s. Photo courtesy of Dennis O’Rourke Collection www.sfcityguides.org

Built in 1875, this wooden train shed and ferry terminal sat at the foot of Market Street — the true gateway to SF in the days before bridges. It was called the Union Depot & Ferry House. In the 1880s this is what it looked like. The Ferry Building Walking tour sfcityguides.org/tour/ferry-b...

Have you seen the elephant?” It was a popular term used to speak of the difficulties in getting from your starting point A to destination point B. Gold Rush City www.sfcityguides.org/desc.html?to...

In 1916, San Francisco extended its Path of Gold lights to the Market Street triangle at Kearny, Sutter, and Powell. Sculptor Leo Lentelli’s 19 ft iron lamp design, with three glowing globes. Historic Market Street: Path to Gold walking tour. sfcityguides.org/tour/histori...

History on the move! One of SF’s rare 1906 earthquake refugee shacks is being relocated to preserve a piece of post-quake resilience. These humble cottages once housed thousands. Precita Park in 1907. (Charles Weidner photograph) Www.sfcityguides.org

The interior of the Mark Hopkins mansion. The Nob Hill free walking tour takes walkers to this former glorious mansion. sfcityguides.org/tour/nob-hill/

Did you know that there was a Castle in Glen Park Neighborhood long ago? Photo courtesy of San Francisco Public Library History Center. Www.sfcityguides.org

By 1922, the neoclassical Cliff House (built 1909) was leased to Richard “Shorty” Roberts, running it dry under Prohibition. It didn’t stay that way for long: police raids for booze followed from 1923–1925. The Lands End: Sutro Heights Walking Tour. sfcityguides.org/tour/lands-e...

This is the site of San Francisco’s first fireproof building, erected in 1853 by Henry Wager Halleck. It was the headquarters for many outstanding lawyers, financiers, writers, actors, and artists. The Beat Generation walking tour sfcityguides.org/tour/beat-ge...

On February 28th, 1935, a runaway vehicle struck the cable car signal tower killing the worker employee inside. Today, there’s a barrier to protect the worker inside. The Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars. RSVP: sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...

Ever imagine SF without the Bay? On this tour at Crissy Field, you’ll see regattas, historic ships, working boats. No two walks are the same. Meets at Crissy Field East Beach 1hr 45min Bring layers — it’s windy out there Come see the Bay in action. sfcityguides.org/tour/maritim...

Old St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco’s first high rise built in 1854. At the time it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi. When the 1906 earth & fire struck, it gutted the interiors, melted the bells and marble altar. www.sfcityguides.org

The State Belt Railroad of California was a shortline that served San Francisco’s waterfront, with its tracks extending the length of the Embarcadero from south of Market Street to Fort Mason and the Presidio. Photo circa 1943. www.sfcityguides.org

Long before gold rush chaos, this quiet cove village on the bay was home to a couple hundred people with about 40 buildings, a few trading posts, and hide-and-tallow ships anchored offshore. It took its name from the fragrant wild mint that carpeted the surrounding hills. www.sfcityguides.org

View of dedicating ceremony for the Dewey Monument central to Union Square in 1903. www.sfcityguides.org

In 1887, the Market Street Cable Railway converted a steam-powered “dummy” line into a full cable car route Thanks to SFMemory for allowing us to repost their photo. Cable Cars, Halfway to the Stars. sfcityguides.org/tour/cable-c...

Located on Fulton between 24th & 25th Avenues, the Casino Roadhouse was a loud, boisterous restaurant and bar in a sparsely populated area of town. Special thanks to SF Public Library for allowing us to repost their picture. Inner Richmond Tour sfcityguides.org/tour/inner-r...

Two earthquake-proof museums. Two Pritzker-worthy architects. One epic walk through Golden Gate Park’s greenest secrets. Nature, art, and science collide — join us! Link in bio sfcityguides.org/tour/archite... #fishermanswharf #sfwalks #visitsanfrancisco #bestofbayarea

Robert Frost was born in San Francisco in 1874. He wrote about SF: “Such was life in the Golden Gate Gold dusted all we drank and ate And I was one of the children told, “We must eat our peck of gold”. This monument can be found near the end of the California Cable Car line. www.sfcityguides.org

The first San Francisco Municipal Railway streetcars rolled into service on December 28, 1912. However, it was the first to be established in a major US city, giving it widespread recognition. Photo courtesy of SFMTA Photo Archive www.sfcityguides.org

On July 1, 1846, U.S. Army Captain John C. Fremont gazed at the narrow strait that separates the Bay for the Pacific Ocean, and said “it is a golden gate to trade with the Orient.” The Golden Gate Bridge free walking tours RSVP ——> sfcityguides.org/tour/golden-...

Come & let us be your Presidio guide to learn about the rich history of this National Park in your own backyard. Celebrate on the tour and then search for some of the more notable residents of the SF, including Major Pauline Cushman Fryer, a Union spy. sfcityguides.org/tour/presidio/