Gold Rush San Francisco

1. Arriving in Gold Rush San Francisco

2. View of the Harbor from Telegraph Hill
When the ships carrying gold seekers arrived at San Francisco, many of the
sailors abandoned their posts and joined their passengers to seek their fortunes in
the interior of California — leaving their abandoned ships behind.

3. Harbor with Abandoned Vessels

4. One of the abandoned vessels, the Niantic, was drawn up to the
shore, crowned with a two-story buildings, and served as a hotel

5. A plaque today marks the site where the Niantic Hotel once stood

6. Rats infested the streets of Gold Rush San Francisco, especially
during the rainy season

7. There were signs posted in some thoroughfares during the rainy season, with the warning:
“THIS STREET IS IMPASSABLE/ NOT EVEN JACKASSABLE”

8. A Gold Rush Special Event: Steamer Day

9. The Steamer Arrives

10. Steamer Day Mail Call
Gretting old friends, getting the bad news, gathering up newspapers to sell

11. Next:
The Four Defining Traits
of
Gold Rush San Francisco