Product Description

The natives call it simply "the City." This is the story of the changing face of San Francisco, and how it has become one of the most picturesque cities in the world. Seventy modern color photographs are compared side-by-side with seventy archival photographs from the 1850s to the 1950s. While focusing on famous vistas and familiar landmarks, it also explores well-known neighborhoods. The Then and Now series includes: New York, Washington, Boston, and San Francisco.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40364 in Books
• Published on: 2002-05-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 144 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781571451569
• BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful look Back and Forward
This book offers an excellent photographic perspective of San Francisco's past and present. Photos from the 1850's even up to the early 1960s (in the case of Diamond Heights) are shown along with photos of what a particular area of SF looks like today. While this book is a testament to how much the city has grown and changed over the last 150 years, it also shows how resilient it was after the earthquake and fire in 1906 that virtually leveled it.

It also makes the reader ponder a little about what life must have been like in San Francisco around the turn of the 20th century. Among the areas shown? The Marina district, Pacific Heights, Market St and the ferry building, several panoramas of the city, the Golden Gate bridge (during contruction and how it appears today), and Nob Hill.

Not only are the photos spectacular, but it also offers some history about "the city by the bay" and how some parts of it have changed dramatically and others might still be recognizable to those who visited 50 years ago. An excellent pictorial coffee table book about the city I'm lucky enough to live near.

Unexpected views of the city, even for locals
Unlike many San Francisco photo essays, this book gives a nice perspective on the history of the city beyond the frequently photographed northeast quarter. It is interesting to see the surprising changes of even "contemporary" history such as a 1963 and 1998 perspective of Diamond Heights. Though it lacks any indepth narrative, the brief descriptions of the photos provide some useful tidbits. And it does provide some amazing comparative visuals of the city.The books is quite reasonably priced for a fairly extensive visual presentation.

Great Gift For SF Lovers
Great History Picture Book for all Ages. Just enough reading to keep little ones interested. The pictures are bold and beautiful. I bought one for myself. Great gift for someone who loves San Francisco.