North Beach in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Old Broadway Jail

San Francisco's First County Jail (1851-1906) - 534 Broadway

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 7, 2018

1. The Old Broadway Jail Marker

Inscription. Constructed at the foot of Telegraph Hill in 1851, the Old Broadway Jail was San Francisco's first real prison, a three-story brick fortress consisting of 60 cells that could house up to 200 prisoners. In 1856, the jail saw hundreds of members of the Vigilance Committee, a citizen-vigilante group, converge on the prison to demand the handing-over of the murderer of a local newspaper editor, who was swiftly found guilty by the committee and hanged two days later. A half-century later, the jail was irreparably damaged in the 1906 Earthquake and dynamited shortly thereafter.

Erected 2018 by Top of Broadway Community Benefits District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical date for this entry is May 20, 1856.

Location. 37° 47.881′ N, 122° 24.374′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in North Beach. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway and Romolo Place, on the right when traveling west on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 534 Broadway, San Francisco CA 94133, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Italian American Bank (a few steps from this marker); Finnochio's (within shouting distance of this marker); The Condor (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Peter Macchiarini Steps (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lusty Lady (within shouting distance of this marker); Lupo’s Restaurant (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Saloon (about 300 feet away); Devil's Acre & Battle Row (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. This is one of ten historical markers installed by the Top of Broadway Community Benefits District in the Spring of 2018.

Also see . . .
1. The 1856 Committee of Vigilance (The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco). (Submitted on April 9, 2018.)
2. 1856: Casey and Cora, by the San Francisco Vigilance Committee (ExecutedToday.com). (Submitted on April 9, 2018.)
3. San Francisco Committee of Vigilance (Wikipedia). (Submitted on April 9, 2018.)

The Old Broadway Jail Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 7, 2018

2. The Old Broadway Jail Marker - Wide View

The marker is visible here on the corner, mounted in the sidewalk, next to the parking meter.

<i>Great excitement in San Francisco,...</i> front of the jail, the Vigilance Committee taking image. Click for full size.

Lithograph by J. Dallas (image courtesy of the Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley), 1856

3. Great excitement in San Francisco,... front of the jail, the Vigilance Committee taking

Full title: Great excitement in San Francisco, front of the jail, the Vigilance Committee taking possession of Cora and Casey.

It is worth noting that the marker only mentions Casey, and only indirectly by way of the crime committed, rather than by name. The Vigilance Committee sentenced and hanged two persons on May 22, 1856 - Charles Cora (for the murder of U.S. Marshal Richardson), and James P. Casey (for the murder of newspaper editor James King, who had editorialized that Sheriff David Scannell should hang if Cora were allowed (through corrupt connections) to escape). Cora and Casey were actually taken from the jail by mobs at different times.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 524 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 9, 2018, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.