FREE genealogy since 1999 - History belongs to all of us!
Add YOUR Family To This Page
History of San Francisco, California, USA
Journey back in time to San Francisco, California, USA
Visit San Francisco, California, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
Are you from San Francisco? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!
San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
During his engagement at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, Otis Redding stayed on a houseboat in Sausalito. While there he wrote his last song and greatest hit: "The Dock of the Bay."
50states.com
There is MUCH more to discover about San Francisco, California, USA. Read on!
- 1776 - San Francisco founded
www.wikipedia.org 
1847 - January 30 – Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco.
www.wikipedia.org
January 30, 1847- 1850 - September 17 - Great fire in San Francisco
historyorb.com
September 17, 1850 - 1850 - April 15 - City of San Francisco incorporated
historyorb.com - 1852 - July 3 - Congress authorizes US's 2nd mint (San Francisco, California)
historyorb.com
July 3, 1852 - 1854 - San Francisco
San Francisco, the commercial metropolis of California, and the queen city of the "far West," is situated on the western shore of the magnificent bay ...Read MORE... - 1866 - TERRIBLE EXPLOSION -- GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
San Francisco, Monday, April 16.
A terrible explosion of what was supposed to be nitro glicerine, occurred at a 1:15 o'clock to-day, near WELLS, FA...Read MORE... - 1868 - Built on Made Land
San Francisco is so largely built on made land that the timbers of old wharves were recently exhumed half a mile from the present water front.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 13, 1868 - 1868 - In digging a foundation in San Francisco, a heavy barrel was exhumed, and great was the excitement when it became rumored that a barrel of gold dust had been hidden there some twenty years ago.
When opened, it proved to be full of very putrid flour.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
August 22, 1868 - 1869 - Teaching Chinese Girls
Teachers are to be employed to instruct the Chinese girls in San Francisco, where they are rapidly increasing. The work is undertaken by the churches.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 19, 1869 - 1869 - First westbound train arrived in San Francisco
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ catimeln.htm 
Wm. Smith, Manufacturer of Patent Water Closets
Jackson Foundry, No. 523 Jackson Street, Between Montgomery and Kearny, San Francisco, 1871
Advertisement- 1873 - August 2 - A San Francisco cable car travels on Clay Street between Kearny and Jones Streets during its first trial run.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/ - 1874 - A Curious Clock
A Thompson, Connecticut, clock company has shipped a curious clock to San Francisco, to be placed in the tower of the greatest hotel on the continent,...Read MORE... 
The "Cliff House"
Picturesque America... Oliver Bell Bunce, William Cullen Bryant
New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1872-1874.
"The Cliff House is a restaurant perched on the headland above the cliffs just north of Ocean Beach, on the western side... Read MORE...
Artwork- 1876 - June 4 - An express train called the Transcontinental Express arrives in San Francisco, California, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after having left New York City.
historyorb.com
June 4, 1876 - 1887 - San Francisco experienced its greatest snowstorm of record. Nearly four inches was reported in downtown San Francisco, and the western hills of the city received seven inches. Excited crowds went on a snowball throwing rampage
WeatherForYou.com - 1889 - November 23 - Debut of 1st jukebox (Palais Royale Saloon, San Francisco)
historyorb.com
November 23, 1889 
Cresta Gold Rum
Bennett Distilling Co., San Francisco, California
Found at The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
Advertisement
Scene at the Beach, San Francisco, Cal.
Postcard- 1893 - August 10 - The first Chinaman was deported from San Francisco for non-registration.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Volume 1894 Press Publishing Company. 1894 - 1897 - Dead Fish Don't Grow
ROD AND CREEL.
Anglers Who Are Returning From Their Vacations.
Anglers are returning from their summer vacations with reports of excellent fishin...Read MORE... 
Pure Food Rice
M. J. Brandenstein & Co.
about 1899
Douglas County Historical Society Courthouse Museum, Genoa, Nevada- 1900 - FELL ON MOLTEN GLASS. Scores Killed and Injured by the Collapse of a Roof. SEVERAL ROASTED TO DEATH.
Disaster Occurred at a Football Game in San Francisco - Victims Were Hurled on a Red Hot Furnace - Bodies Drawn From the Retorts With Pokers - The Dea...Read MORE... - 1901 - February 22 - The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's SS City of Rio de Janeiro sinks entering San Francisco Bay, killing 128.
www.wikipedia.org
February 22, 1901 - 1901 - San Francisco - By the West Gate of the World by Edwin Markham
If Xenophon had journeyed westward from Athens, pressing beyond the amber caverns of the Baltic, beyond the tin mines of Thule, out past the Gates of ...Read MORE... - 1905 - San Francisco - The popsicle was invented by 11-years-old Frank Epperson in 1905. Epperson (1894-?) lived in San Francisco, California.
Epperson had left a fruit drink out overnight (with a stirrer in it), and it froze, making a new treat. His frozen treat was originally called the Ep...Read MORE... - 1906 - Earthquake
April 18, 1906 - An earthquake in San Francisco is followed by four days of a devastating fire. An estimated 3,000 lives are lost and damage is estima...Read MORE... - 1906 - October 11 – A United States diplomatic crisis with Japan arises when the San Francisco public school board orders Japanese students to be taught in racially segregated schools.
www.wikipedia.org
October 11, 1906 - There have been five cases of bubonic plague in San Francisco, four of them resulting fatally.
The Clinton Mirror
Clinton, Iowa
August 24, 1907 - 1915 - February 20 – In San Francisco the Panama-Pacific International Exposition is opened.
www.wikipedia.org
February 20, 1915 - 1916 - July 22 – In San Francisco, California, a bomb explodes on Market Street during a Preparedness Day parade, killing 10 injuring 40
www.wikipedia.org
July 22, 1916 - 1917 - January 25 – An anti-prostitution drive in San Francisco occurs and police close about 200 prostitution houses.
www.wikipedia.org
January 25, 1917 - 1929 - March 2 – The longest bridge in the world at this time, the San Francisco Bay Toll-Bridge, opens.
www.wikipedia.org
March 2, 1929 
Fisherman's Wharf
Postcard- 1933 - January 5 - Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.
Before the project began, many people thought building the bridge was impossible. And when the construction started, most thought that dozens would di...Read MORE... - 1937 - May 27 – In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic.
The next day, with a push of a telegraph button, President Franklin Roosevelt opened the bridge to cars, too.
The area known as the Golden Gate is...Read MORE... - 1939 - February 18 – The Golden Gate International Exposition opens in San Francisco, California.
www.wikipedia.org
February 18, 1939 
Lower Gardens, Golden Gate State Park, San Francisco, Cal.
Postcard- June 26, 1945: United Nations charter signed, San Francisco, CA
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
June 26, 1945 
Great Highway and Beach Esplanade, San Francisco, Calif.
Postcard- 1949 - CHINATOWN FIRE DAMAGE $20,000.
San Francisco, Sept. 9. (AP) - A three alarm fire his Chinatown early Thursday.
The blaze broke out in the basement of a vacant three story buildin...Read MORE... - 1956 - January 9 - First "Dear Abby" column appears in San Francisco Chronicle
How Dear Abby column started at The Chronicle
TODAY'S EXTRA: Her column of sage advice started at The Chronicle
By Peter Hartlaub Published 4:00 am,...Read MORE... - 1962 - January 21 - Snow falls in San Francisco
historyorb.com 
Visit San Francisco
Advertisement- 1989 - October 17 - An earthquake in San Francisco (6.9 on the Richter scale) kills 67 people and leads to the cancellation of game 3 of the World Series.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/ - 1989 - October 17 - An earthquake in San Francisco (6.9 on the Richter scale) kills 67 people and leads to the cancellation of game 3 of the World Series.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from San Francisco, California, USA
San Francisco, California, USA
Advertisement
Wm. Smith, Manufacturer of Patent Water Closets
Jackson Foundry, No. 523 Jackson Street, Between Montgomery and Kearny, San Francisco, 1871
San Francisco, California, USA
Artwork
![Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3a%2f%2fgreenerpasture.com%2fPlaces%2fDetails%2f1269&media=https%3a%2f%2fgreenerpasture.com%2fContent%2fancestorimages%2fsan_francisco_ca_1875.jpg&description=San Francisco, California, USA - The "Cliff House"
Picturesque America... Oliver Bell Bunce, William Cullen Bryant
New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1872-1874.
"The Cliff House is a restaurant perched on the headland above the cliffs just north of Ocean Beach, on the western side of San Francisco, California. It overlooks the site of the former Sutro Baths and is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operated by the National Park Service. On the terrace of the Cliff House is a room-sized camera obscura.
Cliff House has had five major incarnations since its beginnings in 1858. That year, Samuel Brannan, a prosperous ex-Mormon elder from Maine, bought for $1,500 the lumber salvaged from a ship that foundered on the basalt cliffs below. With this material he built the first Cliff House.
The second Cliff House was built in 1863, and leased to Captain Junius G. Foster. It was a long trek from the city and hosted mostly horseback riders, small game hunters or picnickers on day outings. With the opening of the Point Lobos toll road a year later, the Cliff House became successful with the Carriage trade for Sunday travel. Later the builders of the toll road constructed a two-mile speedway beside it where well-to-do San Franciscans raced their horses along the way. On weekends, there was little room at the Cliff House hitching racks for tethering the horses for the thousands of rigs. Soon, omnibus, railways and streetcar lines made it to near Lone Mountain where passengers transferred to stagecoach lines to the beach. The growth of Golden Gate Park attracted beach travellers, in search of meals and a look at the sea lions sunning themselves on Seal Rocks just off the cliffs, to visit the area..." wikipedia)
The "Cliff House"
Picturesque America... Oliver Bell Bunce, William Cullen Bryant
New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1872-1874.
"The Cliff House is a restaurant perched on the headland above the cliffs just north of Ocean Beach, on the western side... Read MORE...
San Francisco, California, USA
Postcard
Scene at the Beach, San Francisco, Cal.
San Francisco, California, USA
Advertisement
Cresta Gold Rum
Bennett Distilling Co., San Francisco, California
Found at The Way It Was Museum, Virginia City, Nevada
San Francisco, California, USA
Douglas County Historical Society Courthouse Museum, Genoa, Nevada
Pure Food Rice
M. J. Brandenstein & Co.
about 1899
San Francisco, California, USA
Postcard
Fisherman's Wharf
San Francisco, California, USA
Postcard
Lower Gardens, Golden Gate State Park, San Francisco, Cal.
San Francisco, California, USA
Postcard
Great Highway and Beach Esplanade, San Francisco, Calif.
San Francisco, California, USA
Advertisement
Visit San Francisco
History, News and Stories of San Francisco, California, USA
Add History/News/Story-
1776 - San Francisco founded
www.wikipedia.org
1847 - January 30 – Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco.
www.wikipedia.org
January 30, 1847
-
1850 - April 15 - City of San Francisco incorporated
historyorb.com
-
1850 - September 17 - Great fire in San Francisco
historyorb.com
September 17, 1850
-
1852 - July 3 - Congress authorizes US's 2nd mint (San Francisco, California)
historyorb.com
July 3, 1852
-
1854 - San Francisco
San Francisco, the commercial metropolis of California, and the queen city of the "far West," is situated on the western shore of the magnificent bay ... Read MORE...
-
1866 - TERRIBLE EXPLOSION -- GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
San Francisco, Monday, April 16.
A terrible explosion of what was supposed to be nitro glicerine, occurred at a 1:15 o'clock to-day, near WELLS,... Read MORE...
-
1868 - Built on Made Land
San Francisco is so largely built on made land that the timbers of old wharves were recently exhumed half a mile from the present water front. St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 13, 1868
-
1868 - In digging a foundation in San Francisco, a heavy barrel was exhumed, and great was the excitement when it became rumored that a barrel of gold dust had been hidden there some twenty years ago.
When opened, it proved to be full of very putrid flour. St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
August 22, 1868
-
1869 - First westbound train arrived in San Francisco
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ namerica/ usstates/ catimeln.htm
-
1869 - Teaching Chinese Girls
Teachers are to be employed to instruct the Chinese girls in San Francisco, where they are rapidly increasing. The work is undertaken by the churches. St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 19, 1869
-
1873 - August 2 - A San Francisco cable car travels on Clay Street between Kearny and Jones Streets during its first trial run.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/
-
1874 - A Curious Clock
A Thompson, Connecticut, clock company has shipped a curious clock to San Francisco, to be placed in the tower of the greatest hotel on the... Read MORE...
-
1876 - June 4 - An express train called the Transcontinental Express arrives in San Francisco, California, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after having left New York City.
historyorb.com
June 4, 1876
-
1887 - San Francisco experienced its greatest snowstorm of record. Nearly four inches was reported in downtown San Francisco, and the western hills of the city received seven inches. Excited crowds went on a snowball throwing rampage
WeatherForYou.com
-
1889 - November 23 - Debut of 1st jukebox (Palais Royale Saloon, San Francisco)
historyorb.com
November 23, 1889
-
1893 - August 10 - The first Chinaman was deported from San Francisco for non-registration.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Volume 1894 Press Publishing Company. 1894
-
1897 - Dead Fish Don't Grow
ROD AND CREEL.
Anglers Who Are Returning From Their Vacations.
Anglers are returning from their summer vacations with reports of excellent... Read MORE...
-
1900 - FELL ON MOLTEN GLASS. Scores Killed and Injured by the Collapse of a Roof. SEVERAL ROASTED TO DEATH.
Disaster Occurred at a Football Game in San Francisco - Victims Were Hurled on a Red Hot Furnace - Bodies Drawn From the Retorts With Pokers - The... Read MORE...
-
1901 - San Francisco - By the West Gate of the World by Edwin Markham
If Xenophon had journeyed westward from Athens, pressing beyond the amber caverns of the Baltic, beyond the tin mines of Thule, out past the Gates of ... Read MORE...
-
1901 - February 22 - The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's SS City of Rio de Janeiro sinks entering San Francisco Bay, killing 128.
www.wikipedia.org
February 22, 1901
-
1905 - San Francisco - The popsicle was invented by 11-years-old Frank Epperson in 1905. Epperson (1894-?) lived in San Francisco, California.
Epperson had left a fruit drink out overnight (with a stirrer in it), and it froze, making a new treat. His frozen treat was originally called the... Read MORE...
-
1906 - Earthquake
April 18, 1906 - An earthquake in San Francisco is followed by four days of a devastating fire. An estimated 3,000 lives are lost and damage is... Read MORE...
-
1906 - October 11 – A United States diplomatic crisis with Japan arises when the San Francisco public school board orders Japanese students to be taught in racially segregated schools.
www.wikipedia.org
October 11, 1906
-
There have been five cases of bubonic plague in San Francisco, four of them resulting fatally.
The Clinton Mirror
Clinton, Iowa
August 24, 1907
-
1915 - February 20 – In San Francisco the Panama-Pacific International Exposition is opened.
www.wikipedia.org
February 20, 1915
-
1916 - July 22 – In San Francisco, California, a bomb explodes on Market Street during a Preparedness Day parade, killing 10 injuring 40
www.wikipedia.org
July 22, 1916
-
1917 - January 25 – An anti-prostitution drive in San Francisco occurs and police close about 200 prostitution houses.
www.wikipedia.org
January 25, 1917
-
1929 - March 2 – The longest bridge in the world at this time, the San Francisco Bay Toll-Bridge, opens.
www.wikipedia.org
March 2, 1929
-
1933 - January 5 - Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.
Before the project began, many people thought building the bridge was impossible. And when the construction started, most thought that dozens would... Read MORE...
-
1937 - May 27 – In California, the Golden Gate Bridge opens to pedestrian traffic.
The next day, with a push of a telegraph button, President Franklin Roosevelt opened the bridge to cars, too.
The area known as the Golden Gate... Read MORE...
-
1939 - February 18 – The Golden Gate International Exposition opens in San Francisco, California.
www.wikipedia.org
February 18, 1939
-
June 26, 1945: United Nations charter signed, San Francisco, CA
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
June 26, 1945
-
1949 - CHINATOWN FIRE DAMAGE $20,000.
San Francisco, Sept. 9. (AP) - A three alarm fire his Chinatown early Thursday.
The blaze broke out in the basement of a vacant three story... Read MORE...
-
1956 - January 9 - First "Dear Abby" column appears in San Francisco Chronicle
How Dear Abby column started at The Chronicle
TODAY'S EXTRA: Her column of sage advice started at The Chronicle
By Peter Hartlaub Published 4:00... Read MORE...
-
1962 - January 21 - Snow falls in San Francisco
historyorb.com
-
1989 - October 17 - An earthquake in San Francisco (6.9 on the Richter scale) kills 67 people and leads to the cancellation of game 3 of the World Series.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/
-
1989 - October 17 - An earthquake in San Francisco (6.9 on the Richter scale) kills 67 people and leads to the cancellation of game 3 of the World Series.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/
San Francisco, California, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in San Francisco, California, USA
We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in San Francisco.View Them Now (sorted by year of birth)
Ancestors Who Were Married in San Francisco, California, USA
We currently have information about ancestors who were married in San Francisco.View Them Now
Not the place you are looking for? Try again!
Search for Your Family by Place
Updated: 6/18/2021 11:49:17 AM
Are you from San Francisco? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!
If you'd like to be contacted by others who have ancestors from San Francisco, leave a message here!The comments you read here belong only to the person who posted them. We reserve the right to remove off-topic and inappropriate comments.