San Francisco
and thereabout

This 1902 book may be the first time that the business community realized that San Francisco could become a tourist attraction.

Author Charles Keeler in his preface wrote:

There is a real need at the present day of a book on San Francisco which shall be simple and direct. It is needed not merely to introduce people at a distance to the American metropolis of the Pacific, but also that the younger generation may not forget the exciting scenes which have been enacted here.

He added that the descriptive chapters were chiefly the result of his personal observations during the past fifteen years supplemented by material from the Chamber of Commerce.

All of the photographs are from his book with the exception of three cable car scenes. They were added because his narrative fit the views perfectly.

The words that accompany each image are his. Where I have added something it will be italicized.

Return to 1902