Know any good San Francisco history books?

May 5, 2008 3:25 PM

I'd like a few book recommendations to learn about the early history of my fine city.

I was standing on Twin Peaks yesterday and noticed that you could see straight down Market Street to the Ferry Building, and I realized that I had no idea if that was planned, or even when Market Street was developed. Then I realized that I knew very little about this little town I call home.

It looks like there are a bunch of books out there on SF history - does anyone have specific suggestions? I guess I'm looking for the city's early history through maybe WWII...

posted by squishy to writing & language (10 comments total)

Imperial San Franciso is outstanding.

Gay by the Bay is a great history of gay San Francisco.
posted by rtha at 3:31 PM on May 5

Well, not quite history, but Bohemian San Francisco is a good look at SF restaurants in the early 20th century. It's a gem.
posted by Pants! at 3:33 PM on May 5

Seconding Imperial San Francisco -- it's terrific.
posted by trip and a half at 3:34 PM on May 5

Ooh! Ooh! I get to be the first to recommend The Barbary Coast!
posted by Zed_Lopez at 3:39 PM on May 5

Apologies for misspelling San Francisco! D'oh!
posted by rtha at 3:40 PM on May 5

Everybody in "the city" read Herb Caen's column, Baghdad-by-the-Bay. Here are some snippets to whet your appetite.
posted by Carol Anne at 4:26 PM on May 5

Thanks, all!
posted by squishy at 5:46 PM on May 5

Read some of the early histories courtesy of Google Books or the Internet Archive. I find that sometimes the authors of recent history books get things wrong and you get more accurate stories from older books.
posted by JJ86 at 8:23 PM on May 5

Dana's "Two Years Before the Mast" is interesting from a nautical perspective - especially when he's gathering firewood on Yerba Buena Island - but the essay "Twenty-Four Years After" is accessible to anyone who has walked or cycled around the city to any extent.
posted by jet_silver at 8:47 PM on May 5

Seconding "Imperial San Francisco" - worth seeking out, though it appears to be out of print.
posted by mzurer at 8:02 AM on May 6