South Beach in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Brannan Street
In February of 1853, the United States Topographical Engineers published their first detailed survey of the city, showing new streets, many named for army and navy officers. Fremont and Folsom were prominent officers; Harrison, Bryant and King held important city and port positions’ Spear and Brannon had been pioneers in Yerba Buena before San Francisco has its name.
Archetypical Gold Rush San Franciscan, Sam Brannan was first in many achievements. He arrived in Yerba Buena by sea in 1846, leading two hundred Mormon pioneers, and founding the city’s first newspaper. He rode through the streets of San Francisco in 1848, announcing the discovery of gold for all to hear. In 1851, he inspired the vigilantes to take the law into their own hands and restore order to a chaotic city. The first California millionaire, he spent this fortune in building Calistoga as a health resort and lost it all. He died in 1889 with a twenty dollar gold piece in his hand.
“Some contend that there are really no laws in force here, but the divine law, and the law of nature.” – Sam Brannan, Editor, California Star • March 27, 1847
Erected by San Francisco Art Commission for the Waterfront Transportation Projects.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1853.
Location. 37° 47.083′ N, 122° 23.303′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in South Beach. Marker is on Brannan Street near Embarcadero, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Brannan Street, San Francisco CA 94107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Beale Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Beale Street Wharf (within shouting distance of this marker); Fremont Street (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Bay Bridge (about 400 feet away); The Alaska Packers (about 600 feet away); Building the Seawall (about 700 feet away); The Oriental Warehouse (about 700 feet away); Vernon Alley (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
Also see . . . Latter-day Scoundrel Sam Brannan - Historynet.com. From his base in Gold Rush–era San Francisco, the onetime Mormon elder and newspaperman defied Brigham Young and flaunted his reputation for wickedness. (Submitted on March 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 669 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on March 24, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.