Billboards in San Francisco in the 1890s


When this image from the Duke University site ROAD (Resource of Outdoor Advertising Descriptions) caught my eye, I had a hunch that it could be San Francisco. It is, as confirmed by overwhelming evidence as seen from my number one history adventuring detective (who prefers to remain anonymous). Let's take a look and I'll tell you what I know.

First of all, just in case you're wondering, yes, that's the old San Francisco City Hall dome back there in the fog. It's different now, of course, since this was before the 1906 earthquake and fire, but it's still in the same place. So while I don't have an exact intersection for where we're standing right now, I can tell you that it's not far from City Hall. Now let's take a look at the billboards.


The billboard company is Siebe and Green, and reading from left to right, top to bottom: A Winner 1/2 Million Club Cigar, mild Havana; Harrison Bros. & Co. Pure Paints & Colors, Coburn_Tews [?] & Co. Ag't's (Agents), 107 Front Street; Porta Costa Flour (I can't really read the rest); Installment Dealers AB Smith Furniture Co. 128-132 Ellis St. General House Furnishers & Storage, Gent's suits made to order a specialty, $1.00 per week; Eagleson's Fine Shirts, underwear, 748-750 Market St, 242 Montgomery St, __peritas Cigar; "Pure Food" Snider's Catsup; Siebe Green, (can't read) Jockeys, Ball; I can't read anything on the next one. But here's the best of the bunch: Bush St. Theatre Tuesday Jan 26 at 8 p.m. Grand Italian Opera "Le Educande di Sorrento" Given by the Zilani Musical Society, assisted by the Columbian Orchestra 25 pieces. I have an 1897 ad for that:



The last ad is for Buck Wheat, not sure what the brand is, I can see the H O. There's also a man proudly standing there with the legend "Light as a Feather" and a rather unhappy kid saying "I want some more"


So there ya go, a visit to the City by the Bay in the 1890s, to look at some advertising. Thanks for coming along with me!

Images from the Duke University Library Digital Collections, and the Library of Congress "Chronicling America".
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