History Articles & Columns

Browse articles, profiles, and memories on the history of western San Francisco, including Frank Dunnigan's popular monthly "Streetwise" column.

Articles: Most Recent 20 (default) - All Articles
Popular Authors: Woody LaBounty - Frank Dunnigan - John Freeman - John A. Martini - Angus Macfarlane - Lorri Ungaretti

Robert Emmet Statue
The Story of Irish Patriot Robert Emmet and his Monument in Golden Gate Park ( May 7, 2020)
Goethe-Schiller Monument
Just off the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, a large statue memorializes two friends, Germany's most famous philosopher poets, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. ( May 1, 2020)
General John J. Pershing Statue
The story of General John J. Pershing and Golden Gate Park's statue in his honor. ( Apr 7, 2020)
SF Ice Arena
The story of the Outer Sunset's 48th Avenue Ice Rink ( Jan 24, 2020)
Grace Perego in Six Scenes
Meet SF's First-Wave Feminist Housing Mogul ( Jun 1, 2019)
Administration Building at the 1894 Midwinter Fair
One of five main halls at the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. ( May 16, 2019)
Horticultural and Agricultural Building at the 1894 Midwinter Fair
One of five main halls at the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. ( Apr 20, 2019)
Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building at the 1894 Midwinter Fair
One of five main halls at the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. ( Mar 15, 2019)
Merced Heights
The OMI ridgeline neighborhood that started as San Miguel City, Columbia Heights, and Poppy Hill. ( Mar 8, 2019)
Mechanical Arts Building at the 1894 Midwinter Fair
One of five main halls at the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. ( Feb 23, 2019)
Fine Arts Building at the 1894 Midwinter Fair
One of five main halls at the California Midwinter International Exposition in Golden Gate Park. ( Feb 11, 2019)
San Francisco's Lake Merced: Spring Valley Water
The history of San Francisco's Lake Merced from 1870s to 1930 ( Jan 28, 2019)
Opening the Midwinter Fair
With the press of a button on January 27, 1894, the California Midwinter International Exposition officially opened. ( Jan 26, 2019)
How Many Cliff Houses?
Have there been six, five, or three incarnations of the landmark restaurant/bar overlooking the Pacific Ocean? ( Jan 14, 2019)
Streetwise: Taking a Break
After ten years of monthly columns, Frank takes a well-earned rest. ( Jan 12, 2019)
Streetwise: Jingle All the Way
Christmas rituals and routines from San Francisco past ( Nov 20, 2018)
Streetwise: Giving Thanks Through the Years
Late November rituals and routines for Thanksgiving. ( Oct 30, 2018)
Streetwise: Looking Back at 1968
Leaving St. Ignatius' Stanyan Street for the New Campus. ( Sep 28, 2018)
Streetwise: Celebrating San Francisco State
The university beside Lake Merced turns 65. ( Aug 23, 2018)
Streetwise: Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days
How to occupy a fog-bound San Francisco kid in the 1950s. ( Aug 1, 2018)