Alcatraz and Historic San Francisco, From Gold Rush To Silver Boom
FROM BACKWATER BOOMTOWN TO BOOMING METROPOLIS
San Francisco became a city during the Gold Rush of 1849, prior to that it was a sleepy backwater named Yerba Buena. But soon after the Gold Rush came years of economic insecurity and then, financial panic. That all changed in 1859.
The discovery of silver in the Comstock Lode would transform San Francisco from boomtown to metropolis. The era ushered in the Gilded Age that would last until the early 20th Century. The Gilded Age was a time of great wealth, corruption and Corporate interests bribed governments, locally and nationally. Some of the world’s greatest fortunes were made and lost during the silver boom. The “Big Four”Leland Stanford, Collis P Huntington, Charles Crocker, Mark Hopkins would dominate the city, link the country via railroad, and bring in tens of thousands of Chinese workers who were despised by their neighbors; yet Chinatown thrives to this day.
Because the political landscape was considered so corrupt, an emperor was
proclaimed in 1859, lived in San Francisco and may or may not have wandered the city with two dogs. He printed his own currency that was accepted all over San Francisco.
He fired President Lincoln and abolished Congress, attempted to solve the civil war and end anti-Chinese sentiment. He also ordered the building of the Oakland Bay Bridge and the Transbay Tube in the 1860’s. The self
proclaimed Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I was the Emperor of the US and Protector
of Mexico. He declared himself the Protector of Mexico in response to the French
invasion of Mexico in 1861. Luckily, on Cinco de Mayo 1867, Mexico ousted the French
so the Emperor did not have to send any American troops.
Image of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I
Emperor Norton bans the F-Word
Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word “Frisco,” which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.
1872
Adolph Heinrich Joseph Sutro (April 29 1830 - August 8, 1898)
Adolph Sutro was the King Of the Comstock, he also became a defender of the common
man and fought to break up the control that monopolies had on the everyday citizen.He spent great amounts of money on gifts to the population of San Francisco. He built He built
the Sutro Baths and also built a railroad from downtown to his bathhouse, the train fare
was a nickel. He became the city’s first Jewish Mayor. He built
the Sutro Baths and also built a railroad from downtown to his bathhouse, the train fare
was a nickel. He became the city’s second Jewish Mayor. Although, not remembered for
being a great mayor, as a citizen he was beloved by all.
English: San Francisco harbor (Yerba Buena Cove), 1850 or 1851, with Yerba Buena Island in the background. Daguerrotype. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We’ll look at the:
*Barbary Coast
*Wells Fargo Museum
*Shanghai Dens
*Pacific Heritage Museum
*Playboy Club
*Playboy Club
*The Original Federal Mint
*Alleys of Ill Repute
*Montgomery Block
*Pony Express Headquarters
*Leidesdorff Street-Named for explorer, merchant and SF’s 1st Black citizen,
Includes Alcatraz!
Explore SF
Explore Alcatraz and Historic San Francisco
Cost $75.00
Retail Alcatraz Island ticket price $28 and is included in tour package price.
When: Thur and Sunday at 9:00
Reservations Line: 800.595.4849 (24hrs)
Book Online Now to Reserve Your Space!
Easy meeting location emailed with confirmation
More Information: 415.793.1104
Fax: 415.651.9148
E-mail: info@ExploreSanFrancisco.biz
Please note: Alcatraz tours must be sold as part of a package and cannot be sold separately.
All other Explore San Francisco Tours are sold individually.
Alcatraz | Alcatraz-Japantown with Spa| Alcatraz- The Mission District | Alcatraz-Presidio Run| Alcatraz-GG Promenade Run
Alcatraz-Chinatown | Alcatraz- Chinatown & North Beach | Alcatraz- Chinatown & North Beach at Night | Alcatraz-Historic SF
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