San Francisco and its famous bay, originally inhabited by native Americans, became a possession of Mexico in the 18th century. In 1848, at the end of the Mexican-American War and the execution of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, California became part of America, and two years later, a state. Because San Francisco had been populated […]

Not everyone wants to hike through the wilderness of Yosemite or see the sights in San Francisco. The nerds among us—and we mean that in the nicest way—just might be thrilled to spend hours or days visiting the mother lode of innovation: Silicon Valley. Actually named Santa Clara Valley, the famous brainiac mecca got its […]

Does San Francisco have crime? Does it have way too many homeless people? Yes. And yes. And so do Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans, Pittsburgh and just about every other U.S. metropolis you could name. But this isn’t a “what about” article because there is no comparison to San Francisco. It’s one […]

Covering about 30 city blocks, San Francisco’s Chinatown is North America’s oldest Chinese community. Dating back to the mid-1800s, the area bustles with pagoda rooves, hanging lanterns, specialty shops, restaurants, nightclubs and bars. Old St. Mary’s Church, the continent’s first Asian church, was built in Chinatown in 1853. In 1859, the Chinese School welcomed Asian […]

One of the most famous bridges in the world, and the most photographed, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has been the backdrop for many a tourist photo. It also has appeared in numerous movies over the years, including “The Maltese Falcon,” “Vertigo,” “The Love Bug,” “Superman: The Movie” and several Star Trek films. […]

Named La Isla de los Alcatraces (Island of the Pelicans) by Juan Manuel de Ayala, a Spanish explorer, in 1775, Alcatraz Island became a U.S. military fortress in the 1850s, sporting about 100 cannons to protect San Francisco Bay. The island also housed the West Coast’s first operational lighthouse. In addition, by the end of […]

You’ve most likely heard about Yosemite National Park’s giant sequoia trees, massive waterfalls, stunning rock formations and verdant valley. Here are some of the lesser-known facts about the popular park:

Imagine the effort and struggle it took for horses to haul heavy loads up and down the steep and winding streets of San Francisco in the 19th century. Based on the conveyance systems in mines, inventor Andrew Smith Hallidie patented a cable system in 1861. It took 12 years for the first system to be […]