Presidio of San Francisco [CA]

Description

The Presidio of San Francisco has served as a barracks for 218 years, and has been occupied by three countries. Now, visitors can enjoy the stunning architecture of the Presidio, as well as see the historic airfields and national cemetery also located in the park. In addition to the impressive history and culture of the Presidio, the park also serves as a haven for endangered species and features beautiful and expansive views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the city of San Francisco, and Marin County.

The site offers historic information about the Presidio, visitor information, a photo-gallery containing 92 photographs of the Presidio and its surrounding grounds, and resources for educators, including an interactive field trip planner and educational online games for students.

Crack in the Edge of the World: The 1906 California Earthquake Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/04/2008 - 14:03
Description

Author and journalist Simon Winchester examines the 1906 California earthquake, which devastated San Francisco. He focuses on the geology that allowed this earthquake and the historical impact of the quake.

California Missions Foundation [CA]

Description

The California Missions are among the United States's greatest cultural treasures. The 21 Spanish missions along the California coast have become some of the state's most significant cities, including San Francisco and San Diego. Founded in 1998, the California Missions Foundation was established with the objective of preserving and protecting the missions. The Foundation is the only organization dedicated to the long-term preservation and restoration needs of all California missions and their associated historic and cultural resources for public benefit.

The site offers a brief synopsis of all 21 missions supported by the foundation, a brief history of the missions in general, and information about past foundation successes and future preservation efforts.

Before and After the Earthquake and Fire: Early Films of San Francisco

Image
Film still, San Francisco disaster, Am. Mutoscope Biograph Company, 1906, LoC
Annotation

Part of the Library of Congress American Memory project, this site features 26 films of San Francisco, produced from 1897 to 1916, both before and after the Great Earthquake and fire. Seventeen of the films depict life in San Francisco before the 1906 disaster, including an arrest in Chinatown, a panoramic view of the city from a balloon, and various other scenes of buildings and special attractions in the city.

Seven films describe the earthquake and fire, and two films show a rebuilt city and give a tour of the Panama Pacific Exposition of 1915. Each film includes a roughly 500-word descriptive summary of the contents of the film. The site also includes a 250-word descriptive essay on pre-earthquake San Francisco and an approximately 750-word essay on America at the turn of the 20th century. A selected bibliography notes 32 scholarly works on San Francisco's earthquake.

This site is keyword searchable and contains a subject index and an alphabetical list of film titles. For those exploring San Francisco's history, urban history, or natural disasters, this is a useful site.

San Francisco Architectural Heritage [CA]

Description

San Francisco Architectural Heritage seeks to preserve and share the history of San Francisco's architectural structures. The society operates the Haas-Lilienthal House, built 1886. It is the only Queen Anne-style Victorian in the country to offer tours regularly. The interior is decorated in period style.

The organization offers Haas-Lilienthal House tours, neighborhood tours, and an educational program for students. This program consists of a teacher's workshop, a traveling trunk, a treasure hunt tour of a Victorian neighborhood, and a tour of the Haas-Lilienthal House. Teachers must be Heritage-trained to participate in the educational programming. The website offers interior photographs and floor plans of the Haas-Lilienthal House.

Haas-Lilienthal House [CA]

Description

The Haas-Lilienthal House was built in 1886, and serves as an example of Queen Anne-style Victorian architecture. Today, the mansion is open as a historic house museum, fully furnished with period furniture.

The house offers docent-led tours, as well as historic photos of the house and the occupants. The website offers a history of the house and its tenants, visitor information, and a virtual tour.

Marin History Museum [CA]

Description

"Founded in 1935, the Marin History Museum celebrates the traditions of innovation and creativity of the people of Marin County. Through exhibitions and educational programs, the Museum inspires honor for the past, an understanding of the present, and an imagination of the future." The museum was opened in 1959, and today offers one changing exhibit per year focusing on the history and culture of Marin County. The museum also offers a variety of educational events and programs throughout the year.

The site offers historical information about the museum, visitor information, an events calendar, event information, and an online store.