Since its beginning, San Francisco has truly been a city of undeterred human spirit. The city as we know it was “discovered” by Spanish missionaries and explorer’s beginning in 1542. The native peoples, known as the Ohlone, and their way of life, were almost extinct by 1776 when the historic Mission Dolores was built; it still stands today on the corner of 16th and Dolores Streets. 1848 marked the discovery of gold in California and many prosperous (and unprosperous!) miners sought fame and fortune in the wild wild west. The railroad brought even more diversity to the Bay Area through Chinese laborers drawn to California by the US’s promise of the American Dream. Irish and Italian immigrants made their way to the Golden City and prospered in the fishing trade and the influx of people has not slowed since then; San Francisco is definitely one of the most popular destinations in our country. Because of its reputation of acceptance and tolerance and its cosmopolitan and free-spirited feel, a significant portion of today’s San Franciscans are transplants from other parts of the country and the world.

The history of San Francisco is rich with tradition and culture. Devastated by the 1906 earthquake, San Franciscans rebuilt their city a short 9 years later in time to host the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 shook the city once again, reminding San Francisco that change is the only constant in this universe; again San Francisco quickly rebuilt.

The mixing of diverse peoples has lead to the defined and very individual neighborhoods that make up the city. These distinct neighborhoods afford San Francisco a tight-knit community feel within big city walls. Surrounded by water and the stunning architecture of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, San Francisco is one big panoramic view with a mild climate. The foggy romantic nights and the clang of cable cars are just a few of the trademarks that make this city so beautiful. The days are filled with events and happenings while the nights showcase the cutting-edge developments of the lively art community. Expansion from Silicon Valley has opened up a whole new industry of multimedia and new media in the city , with some of America’s top designers emerging from San Francisco.

The following pages are intended to give you the resources to explore San Francisco. It is by no means a complete guide to the city (I don’t know if that has ever be done!) but should help you in the initial stages of relocation. Please do not hesitate to call with your questions or concerns.

For more detailed San Francisco history, you can visit the San Francisco Historical Society’s excellent site at www.sfhistory.org. Their site is filled with information and links to other sites that offer hidden historic treasures about San Francisco.

Each neighborhood in San Francisco is very distinct, with its own flavor, culture, microclimate, and expectation.  To truly experience this fantastic city, you must spend time in each area to discover its treasures; and believe me, there are many.  In searching the city looking for their next home, people generally take into account price range, convenience to favorite neighborhood hangouts, sun versus fog, cultural diversity, access to work (public transit, freeways, or both) and architectural style.