We’re about a month away from the city of San Francisco’s 173rd birthday…depending on who you ask. The modern city of San Francisco first incorporated on April 15, 1850, and thus many locals observe 415 Day. (See what they did there with the area code?) But that is not the only relevant date in city … Continue reading When Is San Francisco’s Real Birthday?
Tag: san francisco history
Forgotten Neighborhoods: Sherwood Forest
Sometimes a San Francisco neighborhood falls into obscurity because times change, or demographics change, or in some case there just wasn’t really enough to distinguish the area in the first place. But some neighborhoods were just always the odd ones out, and how and why they’ve endured even to this degree remains a bit of … Continue reading Forgotten Neighborhoods: Sherwood Forest
“Godfather of the Beats'” Potrero Hill Home Cuts Price
Back in April we clued you in on The Front Steps’ newest and most intriguing listing at 690-692 Wisconsin Street, a pair of flats on a deep Potrero Hill lot, with a third cottage unit and a whole lot of history to go with it. Now we’ve got a new little wrinkle in the history … Continue reading “Godfather of the Beats’” Potrero Hill Home Cuts Price
Here Are 85 Facts About the Golden Gate Bridge For Its 85th Birthday
The Golden Gate Bridge, our world-recognized icon of all things San Francisco, turns 85 today–and it isn’t even the least bit shy about its age. Such a momentous occasion calls for just one thing: trivia. Tons upon tons of trivia. So here are 85 completely true but sometimes unbelievable facts about the greatest span in … Continue reading Here Are 85 Facts About the Golden Gate Bridge For Its 85th Birthday
What San Francisco Looked Like Right Before the Big One
This week marks the 116th anniversary of the great 1906 earthquake and fire, a disaster that, with the exception of some western-lying neighborhoods, erased the SF that had existed here for nearly 60 years and ushered in the age of, well, the city we have now. It’s no exaggeration to say that without the Big … Continue reading What San Francisco Looked Like Right Before the Big One
“Godfather of the Beats'” Potrero Hill Home Asks $1.995M
***NEW PRICE: $1,995,000*** In a certain sense, every home is a piece of San Francisco history–but some of those histories are admittedly going to furnish you with more to read up on than others. For example, take the Front Steps’ newest listing at 690-692 Wisconsin Street, a pair of flats on a deep Potrero Hill … Continue reading “Godfather of the Beats’” Potrero Hill Home Asks $1.995M
When SF Realtors Kicked Out Our City Cemeteries
As Halloween weekend looms, our usually very atmospheric metro is missing a certain extra gothic flourish that most cities boast: Other than a couple of historic graveyards in the Presidio and Mission Dolores, San Francisco has no cemeteries within its boundaries. And yes, this is because of real estate. Contrary to popular belief, SF never … Continue reading When SF Realtors Kicked Out Our City Cemeteries
When Did the Oakland Hills Fire Actually Happen?
Yesterday, October 19, outlets like SFGate and ABC7 ran coverage marking 30 years since the devastating Oakland Hills fire that swept through the East Bay highlands and destroyed thousands of homes. But wait a minute: Those who lived through that fire and its aftermath may be scratching their heads, because didn’t the anniversary come a … Continue reading When Did the Oakland Hills Fire Actually Happen?
Barbary Lane: The Most Famous SF Street That Doesn’t Exist
Macondray Lane is a narrow Russian Hill alleyway that branches off of Leavenworth, just north of Green Street. It’s a pleasant greenbelt with great views (most of it traversable only on foot), but seemingly unremarkable. And yet, this is actually one of the most famous streets in San Francisco–or rather, it’s the nearest proxy for … Continue reading Barbary Lane: The Most Famous SF Street That Doesn’t Exist
Historic Empty Russian Hill Lot (yes) Asks $13 Million
Nothing broadens your perspective on the phrase “a whole lot of nothing” quite like the San Francisco real estate market. Case in point, there’s nothing on the lot at the corner of Taylor and Broadway, just as there hasn’t been for over 100 years. But that hasn’t stopped it from being one of the hottest … Continue reading Historic Empty Russian Hill Lot (yes) Asks $13 Million
“Haunted” Pac Heights Mansion Listed For $5.74 Million
One of San Francisco’s most prominent haunted houses is up for sale–if you believe in such things, of course. What’s objectively true is that the Chambers Mansion at 2222 Sacramento Street listed this week asking the eye-popping but unsurprising sum of more than $5.74 million. The six bed, seven bath edifice is named for its … Continue reading “Haunted” Pac Heights Mansion Listed For $5.74 Million
Forgotten Neighborhoods: SF’s French Quarter
Neighborhoods are San Francisco’s basic building blocks, each with their own character and spirit. But there have been so many of them over the years that it’s inevitable we lose track of a few. For example, SFGate this week profiled San Francisco’s Russian enclave, a largely overlooked chapter in the history of the Richmond. And … Continue reading Forgotten Neighborhoods: SF’s French Quarter
Plum 1885 Victorian Asks $3.2 Million
Ah summer, when a San Francisco homebuyer’s fancy turns to–what else?–Victorians. And if anyone is fancy enough to have $3.2 million burning a hole in their pocket, that’s the asking price for 249 Fair Oaks, a gorgeous tiered white wedding cake of a “grand Victorian” with three beds and two and a half baths on … Continue reading Plum 1885 Victorian Asks $3.2 Million
Where SF’s Least Expensive Homes Sold
Previously, we explored which San Francisco neighborhoods bounced back highest and hardest this year with a look at the highest median sale prices for single-family homes last spring, the period when SF was emerging from the pandemic and getting an idea what the new lay of the land is. But not everyone is seeking the … Continue reading Where SF’s Least Expensive Homes Sold
“Queen of the Fillmore’s” Scott Street Mansion asks $7.85 Million
Just a stone’s throw away from Alamo Square’s Painted Ladies (not that it’s advisable to throw stones around such prized assets…), an enormous early 20th century house with a profoundly classy Edwardian exterior at 711 Scott Street just listed, asking an equally high-class $7.85 million. The ad promises six beds, eight baths, and nearly 7,000 … Continue reading “Queen of the Fillmore’s” Scott Street Mansion asks $7.85 Million