What originated in San Francisco? San Francisco was founded on June 29, 1776, when colonists from Spain established Presidio
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park and former U.S. Army military fort on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, and is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
What is the origin and meaning of San Francisco?
San Francisco . city in California, U.S., named in Spanish for St. Francis of Assisi; the name first recorded in reference to this region 1590s, reinforced by long association of the area with the Franciscan order.
What are some famous places in San Francisco?
- Points of Interest & Landmarks
- Architectural Buildings
- Historic Sites
- Monuments & Statues
Who established San Francisco?
San Francisco was founded on June 29, 1776, when colonists from Spain established the Presidio of San Francisco at the Golden Gate and Mission San Francisco de Asís a few miles away, both named for Francis of Assisi.
What was the original name of San Francisco?
Yerba Buena was the original name of the settlement that later became San Francisco, California.Located near the northeastern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, between the Presidio of San Francisco and the Mission San Francisco de Asís, it was originally intended as a trading post for ships visiting San Francisco Bay.The settlement was arranged in the Spanish style around a plaza that ...
What was San Francisco known for?
San Francisco is famous for its Golden Gate Bridge, steep streets, Alcatraz, and – you got it, dude! – Full House. The thirteenth largest city in the United States also has some pretty interesting historical facts.
What foods originated in San Francisco?
7 Foods That Were Born in the San Francisco Bay AreaThe Popsicle: An East Bay Food.Crab Louis: A San Francisco Specialty.Cioppino: A Peninsula Variation.Fortune Cookie: A Staple of Downtown San Francisco's Chinatown Restaurants.Chicken Tetrazzini: Delivery From North of San Jose.It's It: From the Beach to the South Bay.More items...•
What is San Francisco famous food?
San Francisco is as famous for its restaurants and food trends as it is for its Golden Gate Bridge and cable cars. Among the unique or regionally typical foods to be sampled in San Francisco are abalone, Dungeness crab, sand dabs, bay shrimp and crusty sourdough French bread. Many local restaurants serve Joe's Special.
What was San Francisco originally called?
Yerba BuenaYerba Buena was the original name of the Mexican settlement that became San Francisco. It comes from a plant (Yerba Buena or “good herb”) which was plentiful in the area.
What is San Francisco culture?
The culture of San Francisco is major and diverse in terms of arts, music, cuisine, festivals, museums, and architecture but also is influenced heavily by Mexican culture due to its large Hispanic population, and its history as part of Spanish America and Mexico.
What seafood is San Francisco known for?
Famous for its' Dungeness crab, Cioppino and local oysters, San Francisco or “The City by the Bay” as it is affectionately known, has some of the best seafood the West Coast has to offer.
Does SF have a Little Italy?
Nestled between Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown is a neighborhood known as North Beach. The neighborhood is San Francisco's “Little Italy,” packed with legendary pizzerias, cafes and gelato shops. You'll know it's the right neighborhood when you see light poles painted with the Italian flag!
What is San Francisco known for business?
With six fortune 500 companies, a long history of established companies in the business and professional services sectors, 1900+ technology companies, 120+ biotech companies and 200+ cleantech companies, San Francisco is the Innovation Capital of the world.
What is California known for?
One of the most popular destinations in all of North America, California is famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, and Hollywood. Other things unique to California are Coachella, the Wine Country, Silicon Valley, and Surf Culture, in addition to less obvious sights and cultural aspects.
What is the oldest city in California?
Old Town San Diego is the city's oldest settled area and the site of the first European settlement in California. Founded in 1769, it's considered the birthplace of modern-day California and includes many well-preserved historic buildings and museums.
What do locals call San Francisco?
In a separate survey of 203 Bay Area residents, 74.9 percent of locals took a purist stance and said that they “only call it San Francisco.” Some 12.8 percent admit to using “San Francisco” and “San Fran” interchangeably.
What did the Spanish call San Francisco?
Yerba Buena was the original name of the settlement that later became San Francisco, California.
What food was invented in California?
8 Delicious Dishes That Were Actually Invented in Los Angeles (...The French Dip Sandwich. ... The Oyster Cocktail. ... The Hot Fudge Sundae. ... The Chili Burger. ... The Cheeseburger. ... The Orange Julius. ... The Cobb Salad. ... The Chinese Chicken Salad.
What food is California known for?
California produces almost all of the country's almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts. It leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries.
What cocktail was invented in San Francisco?
THE MARTINI, 1849 The Martinez Special debuted and made its way to San Francisco. By the 1880s the recipe had been perfected and the name shorted to the Martini, and thus the San Francisco martini was born.
What food is Green Bay known for?
Here's our list of the top five foods you've got to try while you're in Green Bay:CHEESE CURDS. Perhaps Wisconsin's most famous signature food is fresh cheese curds. ... FISH FRY FRIDAYS. ... BRATWURST AND BEER BRATS. ... KRINGLES. ... Pastrami Rueben.Soba Noodle Salad. ... Brussles. ... Wisconsin Whiskey Margarita.More items...•
What is the history of San Francisco?
The history of the city of San Francisco, California, and its development as a center of maritime trade, were shaped by its location at the entrance to a large natural harbor. San Francisco is the name of both the city and the county; the two share the same boundaries.
Who were the first Europeans to visit San Francisco?
The earliest Europeans to reach the site of San Francisco were a Spanish exploratory party in 1769, led overland from Mexico by Don Gaspar de Portolá and Fra. Joan Crespí. The Spanish recognized the location, with its large natural harbor, to be of great strategic significance.
What is the name of the neighborhood in Yerba Buena?
Today's city took its name from the mission, and Yerba Buena became the name of a San Francisco neighborhood now known as South of Market. The Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens are in the Yerba Buena area.
Why did Sisters of Mercy open San Francisco's first hospital?
The Sisters of Mercy were contracted to run San Francisco's first county hospital, the State Marine and County Hospital, due to their efficiency in handling the cholera epidemic of 1855. By 1857, the order opened St. Mary's Hospital on Stockton Street, the first Catholic hospital west of the Rocky Mountains.
Why is San Francisco called Russian Hill?
The naming of San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood is attributed to the remains of Russian fur traders and sailors found there. Upon independence from Spain in 1821, the area became part of Mexico.
How long did the San Francisco waterfront strike last?
1934 saw San Francisco become the center of the West Coast waterfront strike. The strike lasted eighty-three days and saw the deaths of two workers, but the result led to the unionization of all of the West Coast ports of the United States.
Why is San Francisco so important?
In recent decades, San Francisco has become an important center of finance and technology . The high demand for housing, driven by its proximity to Silicon Valley, and the limited availability has led to the city being one of America's most expensive places to live.
Where did burritos originate?
Food historians will argue that the burrito has its origins in Mexico and in the American southwest before it made its way to San Francisco’s Mission district. But a pair of Mission taquerias each claims to have made the first Mission-style burrito (using a large flour tortilla and stuffing it with rice and beans as well as meat), Taqueria La Cumbre and El Faro Taqueria. La Cumbre says they invented the Mission burrito in 1969, while El Faro says that its owner created the first burritos of this kind, using two six-inch tortillas, for a group of firefighters in 1961. Still others claim that this portable, all-in-one meal was the invention of cooks who served Chicano farm workers, and it was one or more of these cooks who introduced the Mission burrito to city taquerias.
Where did the ice cream sandwich come from?
The Bay Area’s iconic chocolate-dipped ice cream cookie sandwich was born at San Francisco’s answer to Coney Island, Playland-by-the-Beach. There, at a no-name refreshment stand, George Whitney was inspired in 1928 to sandwich a scoop of ice cream between two oatmeal cookies, and cover the whole thing in dark chocolate.
Where is Cioppino from?
While this Italian-American seafood stew resembles some tomato-based cousins served around Northern Italy, cioppino is definitively native to San Francisco for one main reason: a true version has to be made with Dungeness crab and Pacific shellfish.
Where did fortune cookies come from?
Though a couple of Los Angeles bakers have tried to claim credit for creating the fortune cookie, food historians agree that the most reliable origin story comes from San Francisco. The reason is this: A very similar looking cookie existed in Japan dating back to the 19th century, though it was a savory variety flavored with miso, and there is also a tradition in Japan called omikuji in which random fortunes are written on slips of paper. Japanese immigrant Makoto Hagiwara, who opened San Francisco ’s Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park in 1894, is said to have ordered the sweet, folded cookies from San Francisco confectioner Benkyodo (which is still open in Japantown) in 1918, so they could be served at the tea garden. The move into Chinese restaurants came during World War II, when most of SF’s Japanese-Americans were put in internment camps. The Smithsonian says that Chinese businessmen then took the opportunity to copy the recipe and market the cookies to Chinese restaurants, and the rest is history. You’ll find them almost anywhere in Chinatown, but look out for the small, delicious-smelling Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory.
Where was Rocky Road Ice Cream invented?
Rocky road ice cream. There’s no question that rocky road ice cream — a classic chocolate flavor with nuts and marshmallows — was invented in Oakland. There’s also no question that the name is a joke about the Great Depression, the crunchy flavor intended as a sweet antidote to tough times.
Where did chop suey originate?
The origins of Chop Suey as a phenomenon in Chinese-American cuisine can very probably be traced to San Francisco’s Chinatown and the need to create inexpensive food that would appeal to Western palates during the Gold Rush and subsequent years.
Where did the first Martini come from?
Culinary history can be a tricky business, and depending on whom you ask, you may learn that San Francisco gave the world the first Martini (possible but not likely), and that sourdough bread originated here (the technique dates to the Middle Ages). There is, however, a small canon of classic dishes and drinks that undoubtedly came from SF chefs, ...
When was the first cable car in San Francisco?
The cable car is one of the most iconic San Francisco staples, and Andrew Smith Hallidie sent the first one down Clay Street on August 2, 1873. Although a series of brief incidents almost caused the removal of cable cars from San Francisco streets in the late 1940s, today, they are still right where they belong, transporting people around the city.
Where did fortune cookies originate?
Despite popular belief, the fortune cookie is not a Chinese invention. The sweet, fortuitous treat’s creation took place in California; however, there seems to be some debate on the exact origin. In one claim, the story goes that Makoto Hagiwara either created the cookie in 1914 or purchased them in the San Francisco bakery, Benkyodo. Makoto, who was in charge of the Japanese Tea Garden, supposedly made (or gave) cookies with small thank you notes in them for the San Francisco mayor, who gave Makoto his job back after a previous mayor let him go. Another claim is by David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles, who says he invented the cookie in 1918.
When did Levi Strauss start selling jeans?
Levi Strauss opened a dry goods store in San Francisco in 1853. And in 1873, Strauss, along with Jacob Davis, patented riveted pants, a.k.a blue jeans. The pair sold the new type of pants in Strauss’ San Francisco store, what is known today as Levi Strauss & Co. Today, jeans are one of the top bought and worn pieces of apparel in the world!
Where was the first popsicle made?
He left his drink outside overnight with the stirring stick still in it; the temperature dropped low enough that the mixture froze. The young inventor, named Frank Epperson, patented his creation in 1923. The exact location of Epperson when he created the first popsicle is somewhere between Oakland and San Francisco. History.com claims Oakland as its birthplace, while the Smithsonian and The New York Times believe it was in San Francisco.
Where did the martini originate?
The exact location of the martini’s origin is slightly up for debate. While some say the cocktail originated in Martinez, California, others swear that its creation took place in San Francisco. Despite this disagreement, the story remains that the martini came about during the Gold Rush when a miner’s odd drink request resulted in what we know as the martini today.
Who invented the slot machine?
Charles Fey, a San Francisco car mechanic, invented the slot machine (first deemed the “Liberty Bell” machine) sometime between 1887 and 1895. Although the gambling machine was already developed in 1891, Fey’s re-manufacturing of it brought the slot machine to its caliber today.
Where did Irish coffee originate?
"It was not originated in San Francisco. But it was introduced first in San Francisco to America," she said, right here at the Buena Vista 65 years ago.
Who invented Irish coffee?
Eventually, Koeppler became so obsessed with perfecting the Irish coffee that he even flew to the original source: the Foynes Flying Boat terminal, which later closed and was replaced by the nearby Shannon airport. It was at the Foynes terminal that cook Joe Sheridan reportedly invented the drink.
What drink did the Yanks drink?
Sheridan was a cook at the time, and whipped up the perfect drink to keep the Yanks warm and awake: coffee with Irish whiskey and a little extra sugar and cream for the American palate.
When was the Buena Vista coffee ad?
An ad in the Chronicle in 1956 for the Buena Vista's Irish coffee. (Courtesy of the San Francisco Chronicle)
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Bay Curious is a podcast that answers your questions about the Bay Area. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts , NPR One or your favorite podcast platform.
Where is Sheridan buried?
Either way, Sheridan stuck around, and when he died, he was buried in Oakland. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Who was the owner of the Buena Vista in 1952?
"It was 1952, it was a dark and stormy night, Nov. 10 to be exact," said Hausherr. "The owner of the Buena Vista at the time, his name was Jack Koeppler, he was behind the bar.". Sitting at the bar was the popular San Francisco Chronicle travel writer of the time, Stanton Delaplane, ...
When was the first burrito made?
The first retail burrito in San Francisco, it can be stated with some confidence, was made and sold on September 26, 1961, exactly one day after Ontiveros and his wife opened a corner grocery store at 2399 Folsom Street. Today his original El Faro—”the lighthouse”—beacons across a burrito empire with outposts as far off as Concord and Belmont and a new million-dollar taqueria near Moscone Center.
What is the origin of the maize tortilla?
To wit: In the rich culinary tradition of Mexico, the maize tortilla has from time immemorial been an essential basic, the small ocher disk on which an entire cuisine was erected. But alas, Mexican émigrés venturing toward El Norte encountered an alien agriculture woefully short on corn. The result, in the dusty villages of the borderlands, was the birth of the wheat flour tortilla.
What is Pancho Villa's salsa?
Pancho Villa is famous for its salsa. Espinoza thinks salsa is so vital to the burrito that he features four separate types: red and green on every table; hot and mild behind the counter. The counter salsas, spooned generously into every burrito, are uncooked assemblages of finely chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, green jalapeño and salt. The bright-green table sauce is a blend of cilantro, jalapeño and tomatillo. The red table sauce is a potent brew that is actually a molten orange-gold color. It is the only one of the four that Espinoza cooks.
What did Ontiveros do the first day?
Ontiveros said that on the first day he was open, a group of firemen from a station down the street came in wanting sandwiches. He didn’t have any, but the industrious businessman wouldn’t disappoint them twice. The next day he was ready with burritos. Soon he made them a staple of the store’s growing takeout trade. There were no big tortillas commercially available in those days, so to make the super burrito he overlapped three six-inchers and charged a dollar. Today his Acapulco Burrito, made with crab and jumbo shrimp, costs $7.55.
What is the purpose of burritos?
Both meal and metaphor, burritos are mother food to the dispossessed. They function for the homesick the way spaghetti transports Italians and chow mein soothes Chinese. In a metropolis of immigrants, of the banished, of spiritual lost souls, the burrito nurtures fathomless hankerings that transcend mere hunger.
Who wrote the torch song "I Want a Hot Burrito"?
Additional spicy humor was furnished by a singer named Cindy Rae, who wrote and performed a torch song titled “I Want a Hot Burrito” while she illustrated her meaning in assorted lewd ways. As she cradled her burrito to her bosom, Yañez quipped, “Olé! Fish burrito!”
Is the burrito a Latino?
From its strictly Latino roots, the burrito is constantly undergoing transformations much like the culture that invented it. Burrito professor José Cuellar says that these days he sometimes treats himself to a homemade peanut butter and jelly burrito. “I’m just a Chicano, doing what we do, adapting,” he laughs. “Chicanos can blend, synthesize and fuse anything within our skins, and the burrito is the perfect metaphor for that.
Overview
Arrival of Europeans and early settlement
A Spanish exploration party, led by Portolà and arriving on November 2, 1769, was the first documented European sighting of San Francisco Bay. Portolà claimed the area for Spain as part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Seven years later a Spanish mission, Mission San Francisco de Asís (Mission Dolores), was established by Fra. Junípero Serra, and a military fort was built, the Presidio of …
Early history
The earliest evidence of human habitation in what is now the city of San Francisco dates to 3000 BC. Native Americans who settled in this region found the bay to be a resource for hunting and gathering, leading to the establishment of many small villages. Collectively, these early Native Americans are now known as the Ohlone, and the language they spoke belonged to the Miwok family. Their trade patterns included places as far away as Baja California, the Mojave Desert an…
Precolonial history
European visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area were preceded at least 8,000 years earlier by Native Americans. According to one anthropologist, the indigenous name for San Francisco was Ahwaste, meaning, "place at the bay". Linguistic and paleontological evidence is unclear as to whether the earliest inhabitants of the area now known as San Francisco were the ancestors of the Ohlone population encountered by the Spanish in the late 18th century. The cultural unit, Ohl…
1848 gold rush
The California gold rush starting in 1848 led to a large boom in population, including considerable immigration. Between January 1848 and December 1849, the population of San Francisco increased from 1,000 to 25,000. The rapid growth continued through the 1850s and under the influence of the 1859 Comstock Lode silver discovery. This rapid growth complicated city planning e…
Paris of the West
It was during the 1860s to the 1880s when San Francisco began to transform into a major city, starting with massive expansion in all directions, creating new neighborhoods such as the Western Addition, the Haight-Ashbury, Eureka Valley, the Mission District, culminating in the construction of Golden Gate Park in 1887. In 1864 Hugh H. Toland, a South Carolina surgeon who found great success and wealth after moving to San Francisco, founded the Toland Medical College, which b…
Corruption and graft trials
Mayor Eugene Schmitz, president of the Musician's Union, was chosen by political leader Abe Ruef to run for mayor as a front for the Union Labor Party in 1901. He and Ruef had been friends for 18 years. Ruef contributed $16,000 (about $483,000 today) to Schmitz' campaign and used his considerable influence to make sure Schmitz was selected to front for the new Union Labor …
1906 earthquake and fire
On April 18, 1906, a devastating earthquake resulted from the rupture of over 270 miles of the San Andreas Fault, from San Juan Bautista to Eureka, centered immediately offshore of San Francisco. The quake is estimated by the USGS to have had a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale. Water mains ruptured throughout San Francisco, and the fires that followed burned out of control fo…