Chinatown in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Former Site of Eureka Lodgings
Residence of Emperor Norton
1. Former Site of Eureka Lodgings Marker
Coming from South Africa in 1849, Norton soon amassed a large fortune. By the the late 1850's he lost everything from a poor investment in rice. On September 17, 1859, Norton declared himself "Emperor of these United States", later adding "Protector of Mexico". The U.S. Census of 1870 showed his residence as The Eureka Lodging and listed his occupation as "Emperor".
On January 8, 1880, Emperor Norton collapsed and died at the corner of California and DuPont (now Grant) Streets. His funeral was attended by more than 30,000 mourners. He is buried at Woodland Memorial Park in Colma.
Erected 2016 by Yerba Buena Lodge #1 E Clampsus Vitus.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Heroes. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 17, 1859.
Location. 37° 47.657′ N, 122° 24.233′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Chinatown. Marker is on Commercial Street west of Montgomery Street
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of First U.S. Branch Mint (within shouting distance of this marker); Pony Express (within shouting distance of this marker); Hudson's Bay Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Italy (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Commander John B. Montgomery's Landing Site (about 300 feet away); "The Family" (about 300 feet away); Western Headquarters of Russell, Majors, and Waddell (about 300 feet away); Home of Benjamen Chinn (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.
Also see . . .
1. Joshua A. Norton (The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco). Excerpt:
December 2, 1859 – Norton I dismissed Gov. Wise of Virginia for hanging John Brown and appointed John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky to replace him. February 1, 1860 – Decree from Norton I ordered representatives of the different states to assemble at Platt’s Music Hall to change laws to ameliorate the evils under which the country was laboring.(Submitted on February 11, 2018.)
2. The Emperor Norton Trust. Most everything there is to know about
courtesy Bancroft Library, University of California at Berkeley, 1876
2. Emperor Norton
Whatever the numbers, this much is known: In very short order, Joshua had made himself into a very prosperous and respected gentleman. He knew all the right people. He was a member of all the right clubs and committees. He was invited to all the right parties. He stayed in the best hotels. He had access. He had arrived.(Submitted on January 17, 2022.)
Then, in late 1852, Joshua Norton took some bad advice. When a famine in China created a shortage of rice, driving prices up 900%, Joshua was presented with an “opportunity” to corner the market by buying — at 12˝ cents a pound, as opposed to the prevailing 36 — a shipload of Peruvian rice in San Francisco harbor.
3. The Story of Norton I. 1936 9 minute theatrical short film.
This rare black-and-white theatrical short was part of Columbia Pictures' Strange As It Seems series. The series was inspired by the syndicated comics of John Hix, whose Strange As It Seems franchise was the chief rival to Robert Ripley's Believe It or Not! franchise.(Submitted on January 17, 2022.)
The 9-minute short, inspired by a Hix comic that originally was published in April 1934, appears to feature the earliest dramatic portrayal of Emperor Norton extant on film.
Additional commentary.
1. Start date for Emperor Norton's residence at the Eureka Lodgings
Obituaries and funeral notices for Emperor Norton that were published by San Francisco newspapers on 9 and 10 January 1880 included the claim that the Emperor had lived at the Eureka Lodgings "for seventeen years."
It appears that Emperor Norton biographers of the twentieth century extrapolated from this phrase that the Emperor began living at the Eureka in 1863.
But, the 1863 arrival date asserted on this plaque is not supported by the local directories of the period, which do not include a listing for the Emperor in 1863 or 1864. Rather, the directory record suggests that Emperor Norton took up residence at the Eureka Lodgings sometime between summer 1864 and summer 1865.
See The Emperor Norton Trust's January 2022 analysis.
—John Lumea, The Emperor Norton Trust
— Submitted January 16, 2022, by John Lumea of Boston, Massachusetts.
2. Eureka Lodgings site is next door to this marker
This marker is located inside Empire Park, at 642 Commercial Street in San Francisco.
It appears that the conventional wisdom associating the Eureka Lodgings with the park site began coming together relatively late — sometime in the late 1990s.
But, research published by The Emperor Norton Trust in September 2022 establishes that, in fact, the Eureka Lodgings was located on the site of the 4-story apartment building next door to the park, at 650/652 Commercial Street.
For a deep dive on this, please see our article here.
John Lumea, The Emperor Norton Trust
— Submitted March 23, 2023, by John Lumea of Boston, Massachusetts.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2018, by Frank Gunshow Sanchez of Hollister, California. This page has been viewed 1,016 times since then and 64 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week September 11, 2022. Photos: 1. submitted on February 10, 2018. 2. submitted on February 11, 2018. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. • Wide view photo of the marker showing its surroundings. • Can you help?
