Facts About San Francisco’s History
Did you know that San Francisco is one of the most historic cities in the United States? If you’re interested in learning more about its history, then keep reading. In this blog post, Jonathan Osler gives some of the most interesting facts about San Francisco’s past.
1. The Famous San Francisco Fog Has a Name
Many names over time have known San Francisco’s famous fog. The name “fog” was first used to describe the thick mist that sometimes covered the city. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that scientists began studying the phenomenon and gave it a scientific name: marine air temperature inversion. This occurs when warm ocean water rises through the cold bay waters. At different times throughout the year, the wind blows across the bay’s surface, creating an area of low pressure. As a result, the air above becomes cooler than the surrounding environment. When this happens, the air begins to sink towards the ground. Because there is less oxygen at higher altitudes, the air gets thicker, creating clouds. Scientists believe that the fog doesn’t dissipate as much as other fog because the moisture content is so high.
2. The Chinese Fortune Cookie was Invented in San Francisco
San Francisco is home to the fortune cookie factory that invented the snack. It was started in 1905 by William Shurtleff, who had moved from New York City. He created his brand of cookies and decided to create fortunes inside them. Thus, the fortune cookie was born.
3. The Golden Gate Bridge Was Meant to be Black and Gold – Not Red
When the idea for the Golden Gate bridge came around, people wanted to make sure it matched the colors of the Bay Area flag. They also wanted to make sure that the bridge didn’t look like any other bridges out there. So, they chose black and gold as the main color scheme. As a result, people often refer to the bridge as the “black-and-gold arch.”
4. San Francisco Used to Be Much Smaller
San Francisco used to be smaller when it was founded. According to some historians, the original settlement only covered 2 square miles. That meant that there were only 5000 residents! Over time, though, the city grew larger and eventually became bigger than London. Today, San Francisco covers 446 square miles.
5. San Francisco Started as a Mission
According to Osler, San Francisco originally started as a Spanish mission located on what is now called De Anza Boulevard. It was completed in 1776. Then, after Mexico gained independence, the missions were closed. But the land remained under the control of the Catholic Church. Starting in 1835, the Mexican government bought the land, intending to turn it into pueblos de Los españoles (villages of the Spaniards). All of these villages later merged into one big town.
6. San Francisco’s Chinatown Is One of Its Most Historic Neighborhoods
Chinatown is one of San Francisco’s most historic neighborhoods. It was the only place where Chinese immigrants could live freely for years. However, many of them lived in substandard housing because they were banned from living anywhere else. The community then got its name when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 went into effect.
I hope you enjoyed learning about 6 facts Jonathan Osler provided about San Francisco.
