{"id":134378,"date":"2015-09-03T16:39:05","date_gmt":"2015-09-03T20:39:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/?p=134378"},"modified":"2015-09-03T19:05:22","modified_gmt":"2015-09-03T23:05:22","slug":"historic-photos-mission-district-san-francisco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/news\/historic-photos-mission-district-san-francisco","title":{"rendered":"22 historic photos of San Francisco’s Mission District that will take you way back"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/h4>

Despite social and housing affordability challenges, the Mission remains one of San Francisco\u2019s most culturally vibrant districts. With a collection of historic facts and photographs, we take a look at the neighborhood\u2019s rich history — going as far back as 150 years ago.<\/p>\n

Looking east from Reservoir Hill, a. 1865<\/h2>\n

\"Mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

There once was a natural water source, and Reservoir Hill was truncated and the water was diverted soon after this photo was taken for further development of the Market Pass and expansion past Van Ness Street.<\/p>\n

Earthquake relief workers in the Mission, ca. 1906<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>\"mission<\/a>Photos: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The San Andreas 7.9-earthquake of April 18, 1906\u00a0destroyed 28,000 buildings, killed\u00a03,000 people and left another\u00a0250,000 homeless. At the time San Francisco was home to\u00a0approximately 400,000 residents. Relief centers were built throughout the city including in the Mission District.<\/p>\n

Streetcars at Army Street (now Cesar Chavez) and Mission Street, ca. March 1911<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Army Street was renamed Cesar Chavez Street in 1995.<\/p>\n

Looking north from\u00a0Mission Street and\u00a0Army Street, ca. 1931<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

United Railroad cars at Mission Street and 21st Street, ca. 1917<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Mission Merchants Association picnic, ca. 1920s<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Founded in 1909, the Mission Merchants Association is still alive and well today.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement agents inspecting marijuana plants in front of Rinaldo Gotti\u2019s home in the Mission District, ca. July 1935<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

A description on the back of the image explains: \u201cRinaldo Gotti was arrested by state narcotic inspector Bernard Blonder and Agents Ed Oliva and William Grant. The state officers took Gotti into custody after they found the plants in full bloom.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crowd of anti-communists raiding the Mission Workers Neighborhood House at 741 Valencia Street, ca. 1934<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

81 years ago, the city was shut down for 4 days due to the 1934 General Strike by the longshoremen and law enforcement. It marked the first time in US history a major port shut down. This was a pivotal point in the organized labor movement in America.<\/p>\n

Thomas McGuire playing ping pong at the Mission Teen-age Center, ca. August 1944<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Aerial view of a fire in the Mission on 24th Street, ca. January 1945<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

This image was taken by a navy pilot. It was not a serious fire and the Navy reported the blaze to the media with the note: “The Navy thought a lot of you Mission guys might be interested in this picture and we thought so too.”<\/p>\n

High school students riding on the back of a streetcar, ca. May 1940<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The news print associated with the above image reads: “Fun, but dangerous, Mr. Fixit points out.” Mr. Fixit is referenced by the public library several times as an employee who worked for the old San Francisco News newspaper.<\/p>\n

View of the Mission District from 30th Street, ca. 1956<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

From 16th Street and Valencia Street, ca. October 1958<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Mrs. Amanda Rivera poses with her dog in from of a water fountain, ca. July 1959<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The fountain, which dates all the way back to\u00a01877, was coveted by City of\u00a0San Francisco, but its owner, local hardware merchant Walter A. Mariani, refused to sell it.<\/p>\n

Southern Pacific’s small branch line in the Mission District, ca. unknown<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

The residents behind 22nd and 23rd streets and Treat Avenue and Folsom Streets had the last of the \u201cin-town\u201d tracks which was part of the historic \u201cOld Main Line,\u201d a Southern Pacific line from San Jose to San Francisco. It was established in 1863 and operated until 1907.\u00a0Kids reportedly used to peer behind their backyards to spot the infamous \u201cCasey Jones,\u201d a legendary train engineer \u201cat the switch engine jostling freight cars into position.\u201d Jones was known for keeping to schedule even if it meant driving the locomotive at dangerous speeds, and died in 1900 in a train collision in Vaughan, Mississippi.<\/p>\n

Mission District police officer talks with a lost two-year-old boy, ca. August 1956<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

A police officer speaking to a child who was found\u00a0wandering around Potrero and 24th streets. According to the newscopy, the \u201cfrantic parents caught up with him 2.5 hours later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hale’s Appliances at 2565 Mission Street, ca. August 1955<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Marketed as the headquarters for TV and appliances in the Mission, a newspaper article covering the grand opening of Hales described the new department storefront\u00a0as “sleek.”<\/p>\n

Sears, Roebuck & Company store at Army and Mission Streets, ca. January 1956<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>Photo: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

For decards the old Sears building at 3545 Army Street (now Cesar Chavez) served as the department chain’s flagship store. In the 1970s it was acquired and transformed into one of the city\u2019s first live-work artist communities.<\/p>\n

Three banks in the Mission district: Mission Savings at 16th Street and Valencia Street, Crocker-Citizens National Bank at 16th Street and Mission Street, and the office of Hibernia Bank<\/h2>\n

\"mission<\/a>\"mission<\/a>\"mission<\/a>Photos: San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As far as 1865!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":134472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11108],"tags":[11105,11131,11155],"coauthors":[8690],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n22 historic photos of San Francisco's Mission District that will take you way back | Livabl<\/title>\n<meta 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