History Spotlight
Photo of the (Past) Moment: Hey, Santa, Where’s Your Nickel?
A Great Book You’ll Want to Own – or Give!
We are really proud to announce the arrival of a wonderful book that is both a labor of love and a product of passion for our city’s transit system. It will make a great gift for anyone who loves San Francisco history or urban transit, or who would just get a kick of seeing how our town used to look.
Hats Off to a Fabulous Photo Website
A sample photo picked off the OldSF.org website: a Muni streetcar turning onto Geary from Market Street, 1914 or so. SF Public Library Photo.
Market Street 1906: A Repeat Visit by 60 Minutes on Sunday
Last fall, *60 Minutes* correspondent Morley Safer joined us aboard 1895 Market Street Railroad Company car No. 578 for a trip down Market Street, recreating the route featured in the Miles’ Brothers now-famous historic film. We told the behind-the-scenes story here, and invite you to read that post.
Philip Hoffman: An Historic Loss
Phil Hoffman volunteering for MSR in February. Tammy Pollard photo.
Great Photo Archive Starts Coming Online
One of San Francisco’s great photographic treasures belongs to Muni! Or more specifically, its parent agency, the SFMTA. It includes wonderful images that actually extend back before Muni opened in 1912: glass plates and negatives from erstwhile competitors United Railroads (URR) and our namesake, Market Street Railway, acquired in the 1944 merger of transit systems in the city.
Photo of the (Past) Moment: 70-line to the Ball Park?
Photo of the (Past) Moment: Steamed Up at Castro
We’ve got an engaging exhibit at our San Francisco Railway Museum, a series of “then and now” photos of locations along Market Street celebrating 150 years of rail transit along our main drag. One period most folks don’t know about is the time that upper Market was all steamed up. This shot (from the collection of the late Walter Rice) was snapped on Market near Castro, sometime between 1880 and 1888. We’re looking at what’s called a “dummy and trailer” combination. The “dummy,” to the right, is actually a mini steam engine. This being San Francisco, you’re already asking, “Where were the NIMBYs?” But a quick look up the hill reveals precious few neighbors to complain, at least at this end of the line.The car to the left, emblazoned “Market Street Railway Co.” (one of several companies of that name over the decades, including our non-profit today) was probably a former horse car. When this “Market Street Extension” line went in, horse cars ran from the Ferry out Market as far west as Valencia. But even though the city cut through a piece of what’s now called Mint Hill at Dolores and Duboce to extend Market westward, the grades on this part were still too steep for horse power.But not for steam, nor for cable cars, which took over this route in 1888, running from the Ferry Terminal all the way out Market to Castro, then south on Castro over the Hill to 26th Street in Noe Valley. (The Castro Street part of the cable car line lasted until 1941; the Market Street part was replaced with streetcars right after the 1906 Earthquake and Fire.)”All the Way Out Market” is the name of the “then and now” exhibit at the museum, which is free, and open every day from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (except Mondays, when we’re closed). We’re at the F-line Steuart Street stop at the south end of Ferry Plaza, behind Hotel Vitale at 77 Steuart Street. Pay us a visit and check out other exhibits, historic films on view, and our unique collection of San Francisco gifts as well!
Photo of the (Past) Moment: Circus on Market!
As readers of our member newsletter, Inside Track, saw last month, we found a fabulous photo.
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