SAN FRANCISCO IN 1849
California would not become a state for another year, but the San Francisco you find in 1849 is a bustling young city.
An American flag first flew in San Francisco in 1846, but the gold rush brought ships, settlers, and cash from all around the globe.
Brand-new bungalows spread from the top of Goat Hill down to the bayfront, which is lined with shops, warehouses, and open-air markets.
There are no families in San Francisco. Nearly every person you see is a man; male residents of the city outnumber the female 50-to-1. Those seeking fortune — or profit from those seeking fortune — left families, homes, and careers behind.
Thousands of people circulate throughout the wharves, speaking countless different languages. You recognize Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, and Russian, but there are dozens more you can’t identify.
Everything is expensive. There are no green vegetables. Fresh fruits are nearly non-existent, and those available carry hefty price tags.
You’ve made it to the West Coast, but your pockets are nearly empty. You have just enough money for a carriage ride to the gold fields, but this fragile jewel of a city is exciting, diverse, and all but begging you to stay.