by Frank Dunnigan Summers are always an exciting time for young people, relieved of the burdens of school work for three months.  What kept all of us occupied in days gone by?  Here are several examples of activities that were year-round fun—but especially when enjoyed with friends during the relaxing months of summer.   Photographer […]

by Frank Dunnigan This month, in honor of Mother’s Day, we take a look back at some San Francisco Moms over time.   Earthquake and fire refugee camp, Jefferson Square, 1906. (wnp27.2600; photo by Miles Bros / Courtesy of a Private Collector) 1906—A group of women and children getting on with the activities of daily […]

by Frank Dunnigan Nearly 120 years after the destruction caused by the 1906 earthquake and fire, we tend to forget the length of time that was required to return to a more “routine” way of life throughout San Francisco. Demolition of severely damaged structures took time, and debris removal itself was a lengthy and expensive […]

by Frank Dunnigan Over the years, this column has reviewed many San Francisco dining and drinking spots, both past and present. This month, though, there is a focus on the variety of specialty cuisines that were featured locally at various times—again, both past and present. Here are some selections from the OpenSFHistory archive representing the […]

by Frank Dunnigan One hundred years ago, San Francisco was almost fully recovered from the devastation of the 1906 earthquake and was making tremendous strides into the 20th century in the aftermath of World War I. Telecommunications were expanding, as well as transportation—both automobiles and public transit. New residential construction was thriving across many neighborhoods, […]

by Frank Dunnigan The year 1925 marked the 75th anniversary of California’s 1850 admission to the United States, and many examples of that event appeared in the OpenSFHistory photo archive. San Francisco began to acquire a more modern look as it expanded beyond its initial recovery from the events of 1906. Here are just a […]

by Frank Dunnigan As the old year draws to its inevitable close, there is excitement in the air as people celebrate various religious and cultural holidays, including Bodhi Day, Boxing Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Simbang Gabi, Winter Solstice, Yuletide, and more. Looking back through OpenSFHistory photos, here are several examples of […]

by Frank Dunnigan November is a pleasant time each year, with good weather, outdoor public events, and some important civic events. Here we have a sample of photos from the OpenSFHistory archive from Novembers past.   United Artists Theatre, November 1938. (wnp5.50606; Courtesy of Jack Tillmany) Graumann’s Imperial Theatre opened at 1077 Market Street in […]

An Exhibition from Western Neighborhoods Project and The Great Highway gallery By Nicole Meldahl   Summary Western Neighborhoods Project is proud to debut HER(E), a new exhibition that carves out public space along Great Highway for eight vibrant women found in the OpenSFHistory photo archive.   Presented in partnership with The Great Highway gallery and […]

by Frank Dunnigan Many local civic events have occurred in the month of October—some good and others not so much, such as the earthquakes of 1865, 1868, and 1989. Here are some memorable examples of past October events.   Earthquake damage on Clay near Battery, October 1868. (wnp37.00950; photo by Oscar Foss, Marilyn Blaisdell Collection […]

by Frank Dunnigan While Golden Gate Park is San Francisco’s largest with 1,017 acres, McLaren Park is the second-largest with 313 acres. (At 1,500 acres, the Presidio is larger than Golden Gate Park and McLaren Park combined, but since it is managed by the National Park Service, it is not considered a “city” park.) Established […]

by Frank Dunnigan Large cities have a tremendous need for a wide variety of health care services. Over the years, San Francisco has been home to numerous hospitals that have served the changing needs of residents. It’s often difficult to trace the origins of some of these institutions in an era that has seen so […]

by Frank Dunnigan Public street clocks have long been fixtures of city living. Even when pocket watches, and later wristwatches, became universal (as well as more recent time-keeping devices such as cell phones), there has always been something reassuring about turning a corner in the downtown area and seeing the classic image of a familiar […]

by Frank Dunnigan San Franciscans are never far from their sweets—bakeries, candy stores, and soda fountains. Here are just a few of the many places that appear in the OpenSFHistory photo archive, recalling some days gone by.   Cherry Blossom Bakery at 1573 Haight Street, circa 1935. (wnp26.1375; courtesy of a Private Collector) The Cherry […]

by Frank Dunnigan Over the years, many views of San Francisco streets and buildings have undergone drastic changes. Here are a handful of scenes from the photo archives that show some of the significant alterations that have occurred in many neighborhoods over the years.   3514 21st Street, July 1974. (wnp25.10359; Photo by Judith Lynch […]

by Frank Dunnigan Before the turn of the millennium, drug stores dotted commercial streets across San Francisco, both downtown and in individual neighborhoods. Then, larger chain pharmacies began to open additional, larger stores, often forcing out smaller “mom-and-pop” businesses. Here’s a look back at some of the drug store outlets across many San Francisco neighborhoods. […]

by Frank Dunnigan San Francisco once had many more full-service gas stations than there are today. Over the years, the increasing value of the land has prompted many owners to sell their stations for the eventual construction of apartments and condominiums, often with ground-floor commercial spaces that serve retailers, restaurants, and medical offices. Other replacements […]

by Frank Dunnigan Public fountains have been civic architectural embellishments since the days of ancient Rome. In San Francisco, such features have long been popular, and increasingly so in the post-1906 rebuilding era when the “City Beautiful” movement was flourishing across the United States. Numerous examples of spraying, bubbling, and cascading water appear in many […]

by Frank Dunnigan Many people take large swaths of San Francisco architecture and infrastructure for granted, seldom thinking about the history of an area. Given the devastation of 1906, there are numerous buildings, civic improvements, and even entire neighborhoods that were rebuilt in the two decades after that event, with many now turning 100 years […]

by Frank Dunnigan San Francisco at night showcases everything in a wonderful light. Looking through the OpenSFHistory photo archive, many images stand out from others simply because the sun has already set. While San Francisco enjoys a busy nightlife all year long with sporting events, music programs, dining out, and much more, many local residents […]

by Frank Dunnigan As we just gathered together to celebrate Thanksgiving last week, it is important to remember the many things for which we can all be grateful: families, friends, some level of health and economic security, and even those familiar places we remember when thinking of home. Here are just a handful of San […]

by Frank Dunnigan San Franciscans — children as well as adults — have a long history of dressing up in costume, whether to celebrate a film premiere, a street party, a parade, a charity event, the dedication of a new bridge, or simply the annual arrival of Halloween or New Year’s Eve. Looking back through […]

by John Martini Originally appeared in SF West History magazine, Oct-Dec 2015 Some historic photos raise many questions while attempting to document a primary subject. The below photo, taken in 1926 at Lands End, is a wondrous yet chilling example.   Lyman Stewart wrecked beside Helmet Rock at Lands End, April 15, 1926. (Photo by […]

by Frank Dunnigan Many people have attended San Francisco schools that no longer exist exactly as they once were. Still, memories are long-term, so this month we take a look back through the photo archives and recall some vanished institutions that were once part of the daily lives of many local residents — some remodeled, […]

by Frank Dunnigan Nine children in the backyard of a Little Hollywood home, circa 1950. (wnp14.3479; Little Hollywood Family Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector) BACKYARD — Sometimes when there was nothing else to do, time could be spent in the backyard with friends, learning about plants, helping with maintenance by pulling weeds, cutting […]

by Frank Dunnigan Two years ago, a Streetwise column for OpenSFHistory outlined some of the many closed, merged, changed, and repurposed houses of worship from over the years in many San Francisco neighborhoods. Thanks to eagle-eyed readers and the vast OSFH photo archive, there are numerous other houses of worship that have also undergone significant […]

by Frank Dunnigan San Francisco has long been a city noted for music and song – from Barbary Coast dance halls to symphony orchestras, and venues such as Fillmore Auditorium, Fillmore West, the Avalon Ballroom, Candlestick Park, Kezar Stadium, the Golden Gate Park band shell, Sigmund Stern Grove, and more. In addition, there have been […]

by Frank Dunnigan Last year, STREETWISE looked back through the OpenSFHistory photo archive at some of the images of the San Francisco Fire Department, and now we explore memories of the San Francisco Police Department, including the many diverse functions performed by the women and men of SFPD across many different neighborhoods. Boy Scout Day: […]

by Frank Dunnigan Businesses and institutions generally want to prominently display their names to passersby. From the OpenSFHistory photo archive, here are just a few of the more memorable San Francisco signs, both past and present. View northeast across the intersection of Mission and 22nd Streets of the American Trust Company, 1951. (wnp58.186; SF Assessors […]

by Arnold Woods 100 years old today, on April 1, 1923, the first Easter services atop Mount Davidson were held by a 40-foot temporary cross that had been erected there for the occasion. It was the beginning of a now century-long tradition of Easter Services there.   Car on Mount Davidson near wooden cross, 1924. […]