San Francisco 1851

San Francisco 1851

About ten years ago I stitched together a seven-panel daguerreotype of San Francisco taken in 1851 and converted it to a Quicktime VR panorama.  On this 104th anniversary of the 1906 earthquake, I reprise it here.  Here’s your chance to stand at First and Howard streets 159 years ago, at the onset of the Gold Rush.

For today’s version, visit Google here.

This wonderful 7 minute film just came across my desk.  It’s a 35mm film of San Francisco’s Market Street shot four days before the 1906 earthquake from the front of a cable car.  Thanks to David Kiehn of the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum for dating the work.  It is an astounding step back in time.

A longer 13 minute version can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKRbTF5afSE&feature=fvw .