This image of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge is taken from a popular tourist viewing area on the north side of the narrows, an area called the Marin Headlands.
The description states:
216 – GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
The longest and highest single-span suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge measures 4,200 feet between the two towers and 8,940 feet overall and its towers rise 746 feet above high tide. Completed in 1937 at a cost of $35,000,000, it connects San Francisco with Marin County and the Redwood Empire.
–The bridge is no longer the longest in the world, having been surpassed decades ago by several bridges elsewhere in the United States and the world. This card was used and is dated 26 June 1955.
Tag: postcard
Bay Bridge at Sunset, San Francisco, CA
This image of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, taken at sunset, gives an indication of the double-decked structure of the bridge. All the cars visible in the picture are headed in the same direction. Cars heading towards San Francisco are in the box truss section below the upper deck.
The description states:
SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE AT SUNSET
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is beautifully silhouetted, looking west from Yerba Buena island as the sun sets behind San Francisco, the city by the Golden Gate.
–The style of cars present on the bridge indicate this card dates to the 1950s.
Bay Bridge Illuminated, San Francisco, CA
This image is very similar in location and angle to the previous posting, showing the same section of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge illuminated at sunset.
The description states:
BAY BRIDGE AT NIGHT
Silhouetted against the western sky is cosmopolitain San Francisco and the beautiful San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge with millions of twilling lights gleaming in the distance. This great bridge is the longest in the world.
–This view, from Yerba Buena Island, is not normally available to tourists. This card likely dates to the 1960s
Bay Bridge, San Francisco, CA
This image is of the suspension section of the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, the longest bridge in the world by combined length. It’s length is extended considerably by the fact the bridge uses an island roughly halfway across the bay. At this point, the suspension bridge changes to a cantilever bridge and continues to the Oakland landing.
The description states:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY BRIDGE
Linking San Francisco and Metropolitan Oakland, in California, is the longest bridge in the world – extreme length, including approaches, is 8 1/4 miles. One pier of the bridge is 242 feet high, equivalent to a 20-story building.
–This image, like the one that follows, are taken from a beach on Yerba Buena Island, where the bridge ‘hops’ on the way across the bay. The older cantilever section is not visible, and a replacement suspension section was built next to it recently.
This card likely dates to the 1960s.
Night in Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
This image is of the block of Stockton Street just before the intersection at Jackson Ave.
The description states:
A NIGHT IN EXOTIC CHINATOWN
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Here in the largest settlement of Chinese outside of the Orient, one may browse in fascinating shops, taste exotic foods and enjoy a truly unique atmosphere, ticked away in the heart of the bustling, modern city.
–The signs for the Tai Chong Co. and the Shanghai Low give an accurate location of the photo, though the Tai Choing is now closed. The cars indicate the photo is from the 1950s.
Grant Street, Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
This is another view of the Grant Street and California Ave. intersection in San Francisco’s Chinatown, featuring the unique light posts and the Cathay House building on the corner.
The description states:
UNION OIL COMPANY’S
Natural Color Scenes of the West
Chinatown, San Francisco, has the largest settlement of Chinese in the world outside of China. Grant Street with its ornamental lamp posts is the main thoroughfare.
–This card is unusual in this collection as it was printed and sold by the Union Oil Company from their refueling stations, rather than sold by stores and other vendors.
This card was used and is dated 12 March 1956.
Grant Street and California Street, San Francisco, CA
This image moves from California to Grant Street, and happens to include the California Street cable car as it crosses Grant. As indicated by the buildings, banners and lamp posts, this is Chinatown in San Francisco, which extends some distance along Grant and on both sides.
The description states:
SAN FRANCISCO CHINATOWN
Showing California Street Cable Car at it crosses Grant Avenue in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown.
–The Cathay House building is one of the most notable landmarks and has housed different businesses over time. Currently there is a fast food restaurant occupying the street level. The Cathay House restaurant is a bit further down the block now.
The banners over the road appear to be celebrating the year of the dragon, which, in consideration of the cars shown, points to this picture dating to 1964.
Calfornia Street Cable Car, San Francisco, CA
This image is nearly identical to the previous one, showing a cable car climbing from the intersection at Grant Street. The Chinese architecture is more clearly visible on the building on the right, as the car is now further up the street and has a higher vantage point.
The description states:
SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR
Looking down California Street. San Francisco had its first cable car in 1873, replacing the horse car used in that period. Creator of the cable railway was Andrew Hallidie.
–The description is the same, but the cars and fashions have changed, and indicate this card is from the 1960s.
California Street Cable Car, San Francisco, CA
This is an image of the California Street cable car as is climbs up from the intersection at Grant Street, notable for the building visible on the right with the pagoda like Chinese architecture.
The description states:
SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR
Looking down California Street. San Francisco had its first cable car in 1873, replacing the horse car used in that period. Creator of the cable railway was Andrew Hallidie.
The cars visible in this picture date it to the 1940s.
Night Scene with Cable Car, San Francisco, CA
This is a view down Powell Street, the cross street in the foreground is Bush, as indicated by the street sign in the lower left. The view is towards Union Square, visible in the background.
The description states:
BUSY CABLE CARS climb the steep, terraced Powell Street Hill at twilight time. San Francisco, California.
–The sign in the distance for the Manx Hotel is at the corner of Powell and O’Farrell. The building is still a hotel, but is now the Villa Florence. The cars shown indicate this card is from the 1960s.