SF History

8 Very Haunted Spots in the East Bay
Halloween is almost here. Dead leaves and cold gray days seem apropos at this time of year – but the blue skies and acrylic flowers here in California belie the true, sinister nature of this land — a place secret, sacred, and steeped in blood. Paranormal is the norm in

SFCentric History: 49ers Founder Died Watching Them Play
Many people say they want to die doing something that they love. 49ers co-owner Anthony J. Morabito did just that, after having first given us our beloved football team. But before we get into all that, let’s meet Tony.

When Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera Created in San Francisco
San Francisco is an old, iron safe filled with gold, glory, disaster, and secrets. SFCentric History is a column, by SF writer V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi, that digs in the vaults of local history and shares the sensational people, places, and things that rocked San Francisco. Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

SFCentric History: The San Franciscans Who Survived The Titanic
SFCentric History is a new column, by SF writer V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi, that digs in the vaults of local history and shares the sensational people, places, and things that rocked San Francisco. The sinking of the RMS Titanic is one of the biggest disasters in history. Many San Franciscans

SFCentric History: When Houdini Escaped His Way Around San Francisco
San Francisco is an old, iron safe filled with gold, glory, disaster, and secrets. SFCentric History is a new column, by SF writer V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi, that digs in the vaults of local history and shares the sensational people, places, and things that rocked San Francisco. Harry Houdini (born Erik

1967 was the Summer of Love. Is 2017 the Summer of Hate?
A lot can happen in 50 years. Babies are born. Generations die. People get married, then divorced. Empires fall and revolutions rise — and in the thick fog of San Francisco 50 years feels like 50 million as the flower children of yesterday celebrate the anniversary of the greatest summer of their lives.

SFCentric History: The First Black Heavyweight Champ Trained in SF
Muhammed Ali. Joe Louis. Larry Holmes. Mike Tyson. George Foreman. These incredible fighters are household names and legends in the boxing world. But do you now who the first African-American heavyweight champion of the world was? The man Ali called the greatest? His name was John Arthur “Jack” Johnson, and he trained, fought, and won right here in San Francisco.

SF’s Legendary Fire Chief Dennis T. Sullivan Predicted the City’s Disaster
Fire Chief Dennis T. Sullivan’s cautionary words proved prophetic, as the city was thrown into a disaster which destroyed over 80% of the city and killed about 3,000 people–including Sullivan.