June 8, 2007
File this under cheap and geeky thrills: full-size photocopies of old San Francisco maps for pocket change!
I got a hot tip about this from a friend of mine several years ago, but with my usual alacrity, didn’t follow it up until this week! Kevin works in the public housing industry, and often has occasion to visit San Francisco’s Department of Public Works — specifically the Bureau of Street Use & Mapping. Your average citizen would not stumble into room 460 of 875 Stevenson Street by accident, but if said citizen did so, he or she would find flourescent lighting, helpful employees, and a couple of large black and white maps affixed to the wall opposite the front counter.
windows into the past
The maps in question were created in 1869 and 1929, respectively — I call ‘em the “Samuel Clemens” and “Dashiell Hammett” maps, for the time periods that these two distinguished (if temporary) San Franciscans haunted these environs.
The 1869 version shows a pre-earthquake downtown, the cluster of old cemeteries out past Lone Mountain, and the undeveloped “San Miguel Rancho” dominating the mountainous center of the city. There’s no Embarcadero yet, Rincon Hill is still intact, and much of the shoreline has yet to take the shape we’re so familiar with today. The 1929 map has more contemporary look, showing the development of Golden Gate Park and the Presidio, and also the Mission Street Railroad. Both maps indicate the pre-fill outline of the city, and that alone makes them worth hanging on your wall.
I find myself constantly jumping up and peering at these things, comparing whatever research factoid I’ve just discovered to the lines engraved on the paper before me — I could stare at these things for hours, and see something new every time. They’re un-retouched photocopies, but considering the fact that the originals hover in a price-bracket that’s a little out of reach, they do the job beautifully. And the price? Chicken feed for such vivid windows into the past.
1869 map: $10
1929 map: $5
Bureau of Street Use and Mapping
Office hours: 8-5pm, five days a week.
875 Stevenson Street, room 460
June 8, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Nice! Thanks for sharing this - I will definitely be heading over there soon.
June 11, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I assume you’ve seen the Historic Maps of San Fransisco from the David Rumsey collection. There are a few interesting pocket maps including one that’s a tourist guide.
We recently used Map of the Gold Regions for a research project that my 4th grader was doing on the California Gold Rush. I about the experience in: Fourth Grader Wikipedia Update. The map collection is really cool and that map in particular with the really neat description about the different routes was awesome.
It was really neat to have a primary source for my 4th grade son to use for his studies. I’ve been looking around at sites that would help me to use these historic maps for things like family trips - and I’m excited to take a look throughyour blog for suggestions.
June 11, 2007 at 5:35 pm
I have seen the Rumsey collection, and am wondering why I haven’t yet added it to my San Francisciana links page. Thanks for the reminder!
I’m a visually oriented person, so maps have always been a fascinating way to make the stories real, to give them physical context.
The podcasts on this site are ideal for family listening and education, by the way… #32: letter from the gold rush would have been ideal for your son’s project.
Have fun looking and listening!