"City by the Bay" a San Francisco Travel Page by spartan

Though Mission Dolores and the Presidio were founded by the Spanish in 1776, actual settlement of the spot by Europeans began in the 1830s around what is now Portsmouth Plaza, then the center of Yerba Buena village. After the discovery of gold in 1848, thousands of prospectors poured through town on their way to the California gold fields.

Expanding rapidly, the young city burned down on occasion, erupted with crime, and emerged at the end of the 19th century as the largest and most influential American city west of the Mississippi. It's booming economy, theaters and opera, Golden Gate Park, cable car system, and flair for life inspired admiration.

Tourism and finance are mainstays of the economy. The city knows how to party, how to eat well, and how to pamper guests. Its cultural scene, especially its art and science museums, music, dance, festivals, and theater, are as vigorous as ever. The city rebuilt quickly after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Its tremendous bridges were constructed, connecting to the shores of San Francisco Bay, and high-rise office towers rose. The 20th century also brought industrial decline, as factories moved to more convenient locations.