Streetwise: Looking Back 100 Years Ago in San Francisco

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 few examples of the local landscapes of that time.

 

Pacific Telephone Building, June 10, 1925.Pacific Telephone Building, June 10, 1925. (wnp26.1878; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

Construction of the 26-story Telephone Building at 140 New Montgomery Street had just been completed and the building was dedicated on May 30, 1925—only a few days before it was photographed in this June 1925 image. It was the first significant skyscraper in San Francisco, and was also the city’s tallest building until it was matched by the Russ Building two years later. Together, they shared the “tallest building” designation until 650 California Street was completed in 1964.

 

Civic Center, 1925.Civic Center, 1925. (wnp37.03042; Marilyn Blaisdell Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

This decorative archway was installed adjacent to City Hall as part of the Diamond Jubilee of California’s statehood (1850-1925), a year-long civic celebration throughout the state.

 

Mission Dolores, 1925.Mission Dolores, 1925. (wnp27.1700; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

Mission Dolores is shown here in 1925. The 1791 mission building survived the 1906 earthquake and underwent some serious but unobtrusive seismic strengthening (hidden steel beams beneath the roof) in 1917. The large parish church to the right (designated a basilica in 1952) was completed by Christmas 1918 to replace a previous red brick structure that was demolished because of earthquake damage in 1906. In 1925, the church was having “churrigueresque” ornamentation added to its façade, an architectural feature that remains in place on Mission Dolores Basilica to this day.

 

Post & Van Ness, circa 1925.Post and Van Ness Streets, circa 1925. (wnp30.0199; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)

By the mid-1920s, vehicular traffic had increased to the point that new “birdcage” traffic signals (with red and green lights, revolving stop and go signs, and a loud gong when changes occurred) were being installed on many busy streets, such as this location at Van Ness Avenue and Post Street. Although more modern signals were introduced later at many intersections, the last of the birdcage signals remained in operation at multiple intersections until well into the 1950s.

 

Aerial, South of Market, 1925.Aerial View of South of Market from Market to Folsom, extending to the Bay, 1925. (wnp27.0734; Courtesy of a Private Collector)

This aerial view of the South of Market neighborhood in 1925 shows vacant lots on Market Street, both east and west of Van Ness Avenue, that would soon be built upon. The Telephone Building at 140 New Montgomery Street (upper right) was San Francisco’s tallest building at the time.

 

Power's Dancing Elephants, circa 1925.Power’s Dancing Elephants, circa 1925. (wnp32.0145; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)

Vaudeville performances that included singing, dancing, dramatic readings, magicians, comedians, and animal acts were often seen coming and going from downtown theatres, as shown here with the arrival of Power’s Dancing Elephants at the Golden Gate Theatre on Market Street in 1925.

 

Market and Embarcadero, circa 1925.Cars lined up at Market and Embarcadero to board ferry, circa 1925. (wnp30.0215; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)

Prior to completion of the Bay Bridge in 1936, a limited number of automobiles could be transported to the East Bay on ferry boats after payment of a toll. This motorist is paying the required fee in 1925.

 

Diamond Jubilee Parade, September 12, 1925.Chinese Dragon in Diamond Jubilee Parade, September 12, 1925. (wnp37.02565; Marilyn Blaisdell Collection / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

This Chinese Dragon was part of the Diamond Jubilee Parade in honor of California’s 75th anniversary of statehood in September 1925.

 

Mission near 4th, circa 1925.Miniature Golf Course on Mission Street between 4th and 5th Streets, circa 1925. (wnp30.0162; Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection / Courtesy of Emiliano Echeverria)

Circa 1925, a miniature golf course operated on the north side of Mission Street between 4th and 5th Streets. The site later held service buildings for the Emporium, and since September 2006 has been home to Bloomingdale’s, which just announced that it’s closing this year. Since the late 1950s, the 5th and Mission parking garage has occupied the space across Mission Street where multiple smaller building stand in this image.

 

Civic Center Plaza, December 26, 1925.Elevated view east from Dome of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza, December 26, 1925. (wnp36.03302; photo by Horace Chaffee, SF Department of Public Works / Courtesy of a Private Collector)

View of Civic Center Plaza from the dome of City Hall in 1925; the plaza’s layout and fountains have been changed several times over the years.