There are a total of 48 historical markers in and around the city of San Francisco, and while I’ve certainly visited the sites of a few of them (Telegraph Hill, Portsmouth Plaza, Fort Point), I’m not sure why it took me so long to purposely go in search of them. On my way out of the city last Friday, I did photograph two of the plaques located within sight of each other on opposite corners at Market and First.
Shoreline Markers, #83
The shoreline of San Francisco Bay reached a point twenty-five feet northeasterly from this spot at the time gold was discovered by James W. Marshall at Coloma, January 24, 1848. Map of old waterline shown on tablet on opposite side of street — Placed by Historical Landmarks Committee, Native Sons of the Golden West, 1921
I didn’t walk across the street to see the map corresponding to this private marker, although I did shoot the nearby Mechanics Memorial statue.
Mechanics Monument
Site of invention of three-reel bell slot machine, #937
Charles Fey’s Market Street workshop operated continuously from 1897 to 1906, when it was destroyed by the great San Francisco earthquake and fire.
