Extrodinary Panoramic Views of Old San Francisco

This week Arader Galleries would like to share our Outstanding views of our wonderful city, the City of San Francisco.  Read further to view the progression of the San Francisco urban landscape we enjoy today. 

Charles Méryon (1821-1868)

Panoramic View of San Francisco at the Height of the Gold Rush

New York: 1855

This view of San Francisco depicts the city after it had received its charter from the new stat legislature in 1851, after expansion brought on by the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevadas in 1848. The population of the city, on y 200 in 1846, and by then end of 1852 grew to 42,000. This meteoric expansion can be traced in this view, in which the vast expanse of the city is emphasized by the panoramic format. 

Daniel H. Burnham (1846-1912) and Edward H. Bennett (1874-1952)

Panorama of the City from Twin Peaks

From: Report on a Plan for San Francisco

San Francisco: 1908

lithograph

Architect and Urban designers Burnham and Bennett were hired to help re-design San Francisco in 1904, they later planned the city-scape of Chicago in 1909. They chose Twin Peaks as the best vantage point to study the layout of the City to create a new city plan. The City was to be organized by functional districts, commercial, financial, residential, entertainment, and industrial areas, separated but conveniently laid out. The view of the City from Twin Peaks inspired Burnham and Bennett’s plans to elevate and urbanize San Francisco.

Eadweard Muybridge (English-born, American photographer, 1830-1904)

“Panorama of San Francisco”
San Francisco: 1877
Albumen prints from glass negatives
11-panel photograph panorama
13” x 88” framed
Provenance: Collection of Daniel G. Volkmann, Jr.

Eadweard Muybridge was a brilliant, eccentric photographer, who gained worldwide fame photographing animal and human movement imperceptible to the human eye. Muybridge’s breathtaking 360-degree panorama from California Street hill, taken, it is believed by scholars, between May 23 and June 23 1877 (due to examination of the shadows), and probably on Monday (people are doing their wash). This image is Muybridge’s most famous single work, providing not only one of the best views of the bustling metropolis, but also a wealth of entertainment upon

close examination. This picture tells many stories. Visible in striking detail are the mansions of the rich and the dwellings of the poor, the churches, hotels, banks, and other features. Muybridge also

produced a mammoth plate panorama of San Francisco, which is excessively rare. The present, smaller version was issued folding, into cloth covers.

For gallery inquiries and purchases please contact us at (415) 788-5115, or visit Arader Galleries 432 Jackson Street, San Francisco, Ca 94111.