Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Unusual And Historical Prints San Francisco Collectors Recommend

By Susan King


The City By the Bay has a fascinating and unusual history that makes it a wonderful place to visit. Millions of tourists do just that to ride the trolleys, stroll through Fisherman's Wharf and tour the other famous landmarks. Purchasing artwork that depicts the most iconic areas found in the city is very popular. Some choose the instantly recognizable Golden Gate Bridge, while others are more interested in the unusual and historical prints San Francisco dealers have in their shops.

Many have had the good fortune to dine at the Cliff House and take in the breathtaking views of the Pacific. A photo the restaurant as it originally appeared, and before its numerous reconstructions and remodeling project, might be a great souvenir. The restaurant's significance as a city landmark is well established.

Adolph Sutro, a mining engineer, who bought Cliff House and restored it to its most famous incarnation was also the force behind the famed Sutro Baths located just north of Cliff House. He began with a ocean pool aquarium that he expanded into the largest indoor bathhouse in the world. At one time Sutro Baths included seven pools, natural history exhibits, paintings, sculptures, and even Egyptian mummies. No longer in existence, the Baths can only be enjoyed in photographs.

Market Street is a favorite of tourists and residents as well. If you enjoyed your time strolling among the stalls located in the amazing Farmer's Market, you might want to take home a print showing the way the street appeared at the beginning of the twentieth century. Most depict a busy intersection bustling with trolleys and horse drawn carriages.

You might have spent a night at the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill and enjoyed the view from the Top of the Mark. If you did, you must have noticed the photography highlighting the original mansion that once stood in its place. Many believed it to be the gaudiest and most vulgar building ever built, but others admired the size and grandeur of the designer's endeavor. Although fire brought on by the 1906 earthquake destroyed it, the Mansion still lives on in print.

San Francisco has seen its fair share of colorful characters, but none have been more peculiar or beloved than Emperor Norton. Generally considered mad but harmless, the self-appointed Emperor of the United States routinely issued proclamations and decrees. He was a welcome guest in fine restaurants and opera houses, where he was expected to pay for nothing at all. A photographic portrait of this unique character would make a great conversation piece.

Of course one of San Francisco's most pivotal and historical moments was the devastating earthquake of 1906 and its aftermath. Photos showing the destruction caused to City Hall and the Call Building are remarkable. They are vivid reminders of the power of Mother Nature.

There is no city in the world that remotely resembles the City By the Bay. It has a unique and colorful personality that has thankfully been preserved in print. Landmarks, local characters, and cataclysmic events are all carefully recorded for future generations.




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