The History Of San Francisco Market Street

The city of San Francisco is a beautiful city surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in Northern California. The city is famous for the vibrant Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars navigating steep hills, the historic former prison on Alcatraz island, ground shaking earthquakes, and the colorful, popular, and historic Market Street.

Market Street is a major thoroughfare that cuts through the heart of the San Francisco. It begins in the northeastern part of the city, at the historic Embarcadero on the waterfront near the Ferry Building, and continues three miles southwest to the hills of the neighborhood of Twin Peaks, after first passing historic and new hotels, world-class restaurants, the skyscrapers of downtown, the Civic Center, and the always colorful Castro District.

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The area was first settled by the Spanish in 1776. They established a military fort and mission in honor of saint Francis of Assisi. San Francisco has transformed from a small port town into a popular tourist destination and a major cultural and financial center.

In 1817, Jasper O'Farrell was born in County Wexford, Ireland. In 1843, O'Farrell came to San Francisco, which was then known as Yerba Buena where he trained as a civil engineer. At the age of 26, O'Farrell first began work repairing Portsmouth Square. Next, he began work on a grand promenade, which was to be the widest street in the city. This grand promenade became known as Market Street.

In 1846, Yerba Buena was renamed to San Francisco after the Americans captured the city during the Mexican-American War. The war between the United States and Mexico lasted from 1846 to 1848. O'Farrell Street, near downtown, has been named in honor of Jasper O'Farrell.

Market Street has been a major artery that has defined the city for many years. The street has even been compared to Fifth Avenue in New York City and Champs-Élysées in Paris, France. Locals have described the design of the street as a straight arrow which points directly at the hills of the Twin Peaks neighborhood.

Throughout its almost 170 year history, horses, street cars, cable cars, trolleys, cars, buses, and people have made their way along Market Street. Festivities on the street have brought tourists from around the world and locals together. Reconstruction and redevelopment over the years has ensured that Market Street will continue to be an important part of San Francisco for many years to come.

The History Of San Francisco Market Street

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