By Carl Pruit
Established in 1776 as the Presidio, the area that would become the city of
San Francisco has seen many changes and events throughout its long history. The city is the home of several attractions like Golden Gate Park, Coit Tower, Candlestick Park, Fisherman's Wharf and of course the Golden Gate Bridge, to name a few. San Francisco also has quite a few museums like the de Young Museum and the Palace of Fine Arts, both in Golden Gate Park. From the piers of the Embarcadero to the heights of Nob Hill, the Conservatory of Flowers and North
beach, there is much to see and do here in the city by the Bay.
Embarcadero Waterfront
Occupying the area of San Francisco that is now the heart of the financial district, the Embarcadero extends from the northeast waterfront of San Francisco Bay to Montgomery Street on the west. During the early days when the city was known as Yerba Buena, this area was actually the muddy coastline until a seawall was built and the land filled in to extend the borders of the city. The Embarcadero is now a popular tourist location, with museums dedicated to the early history of this area. From its roots as a pier where eager gold miners abandoned their ships and headed for the gold mines of California, to its development as a railway center and later the location of farmers markets, financial buildings and shipping ports, the Embarcadero is a fascinating study in the history of San Francisco.
Nob Hill
Standing over the city of San Francisco is the area known to its citizens as Nob Hill, where the wealthiest of society lived in mansions and ruled empires, including the Big Four, four railroad tycoons, Collis Huntington, Leland Stanford, Charles Crocker and Mark Hopkins. Standing between Washington, Mason, Polk and Post streets, the Nob Hill area is a testimony to the elite who refused to live near the common people on the waterfront. Some special attractions include the Cable Car Museum, Huntington Park, the Mark Hopkins Hotel and the elegant Pacific-Union Club.
Chinatown
Known for being the oldest and largest Chinese community outside Asia, Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist locations in the city. With the importing of Chinese laborers to work in the gold mines and on the railroads in the mid-1800s, this area became a natural gathering point for the Asian community. Located between Kearney and Powell streets on the east and west borders and Columbus and Bush on the north and south, Chinatown is a living museum of Chinese culture.
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About the Author:
Carl Pruit has been a freelance writer since 2005, specializing in service journalism and travel. His work has appeared on various websites. Born and raised in California, Pruit attended Contra Costa Community College in San Pablo, Calif. and received an associate degree in the administration of justice.
