Step back one century to 1926 as we explore our photo archives.
This was an era of transformation. The Sunset and Richmond districts were experiencing massive growth. Downtown had evolved into a bustling modern metropolis.
The city's footprint remains familiar. Yet, these photos reveal a landscape that is very different from the San Francisco we know today.
Pier 26 on the Embarcadero, 1926. Today, it sits directly under the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, which opened in 1936.
Rincon Hill near Bryant and Rincon Streets, 1926. The bridge and freeway now dominate this skyline. A small patch of the original hill still marks the landscape by the freeway entrance.
Construction of the Sunset Tunnel, 1926. This vital link for the N-Judah line was completed in early 1928.
Damaged Streetcar 11 at the Geary Car House, 1926. This car served the route on what is now Cesar Chavez Street (formerly Army Street). The tracks were removed in the late 1940s.
Viewing these photos highlights a century of evolution. While the city’s skyline has climbed upward, echoes of 1926 are still visible if you know where to look.
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