Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
San Francisco's waterfront was shaped over its more than 170 years of history by an extraordinary cast of characters from all walks of life, an eclectic ensemble of writers, scientists, artists, reckless financiers, fishermen, industrialists and free spirited mavericks who carried a penchant for mischievous behavior.
Synopsis
Misfits, Merchants, and Mayhem illustrates the rich history of the San Francisco waterfront by revealing the stories of the movers and shakers who helped create it. San Francisco's waterfront was shaped over its more than 170 years of history by an extraordinary cast of characters from all walks of life, an eclectic ensemble of writers, scientists, artists, reckless financiers, fishermen, industrialists, and free-spirited mavericks with a penchant for mischievous behavior.
This book explores more than a century of waterfront history, ranging from the gold rush to the Jazz Age, and celebrates the many legendary (and not so legendary) San Franciscans whose talents, acumen, and drive helped create the vibrant West Coast city. These men and women brought their forces of non-conformity, invention, wit, and determination to help shape and build our most beloved institutions, contribute new scientific achievements, introduce cultural and political ideas, and create industries where there were none.
Synopsis
The waterfront is where it all began for San Francisco. It's where untold numbers of adventurers and fortune-hunters first stepped foot upon the land that embodied possibility. It's where ships from around the world, carrying sea-faring gold seekers, maritime traders, free-spirited mavericks, and hopeful immigrants, came to anchor. And it's where the unconventional, opportunistic, and indefatigable embarked. Misfits, Merchants & Mayhem: Tales from San Francisco's Historic Waterfront, 1849-1934 shares the stories of exceptional newcomers and outliers, whose intrepid spirits helped to transform a small port into one of the most beautiful, unpredictable, and beloved cities in the world.
Lee Bruno explores nearly a century of waterfront history, ranging from the Gold Rush to the Jazz Age, telling the tales of the enterprising entrepreneurs, reckless financiers, tireless reformers, visionary architects and city planners, and bohemian artists, musicians, and poets who all heeded the call of promise. With more than 100 historical images, Misfits, Merchants & Mayhem celebrates the famous (and infamous) characters whose charismatic personalities and perseverance created the institutions, businesses, and cultural fabric of San Francisco.