San Francisco didn’t really get settled until the Gold Rush began in 1848, yet some of the same businesses that started then are still kicking today. The 1906 Earthquake meant a lot of the original establishments were rebuilt, but the following businesses have existed in some shape or form for at least 100 years. Meet some San Francisco institutions that have withstood the test of time.
Boudin
The famous bakery was founded in 1849, the year the Boudin family discovered the San Francisco air turned their French bread sour. From its humble beginnings on Dupont Street to the world-renowned complex (which includes a museum) the bakery has become today, Boudin is one of the city’s longest-running businesses, and every loaf of bread has sprouted from the same mother dough.
Elixir
The corner of 16th and Guerrero in the Mission District has been a saloon since 1858 (though during Prohibition it was known as a “soft drink parlor”). The bar burned down in 1906 but was quickly rebuilt and has been standing in its moody, molded glory ever since. Check out the “ladies’ entrance” that dates to Prohibition.
Fairmont Hotel
This Beaux-Arts beauty, designed by Julia Morgan, opened in 1907. It has hosted many memorable moments since then, including the 1945 drafting of the Charter of the United Nations and stays by every U.S. president since Harry Truman.
The Gangway
If walls could talk in this old haunt, they’d speak of anti-gay raids, civil rights rallies and the steady progress the place has witnessed since opening in 1910. The Gangway was also a member of the Tavern Guild, an association of gay bar owners and liquor vendors that formed in 1962, after a string of police raids and other instances of harassment of gay bars.
Grace Cathedral
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Grace Cathedral is one of many San Francisco institutions that has withstood the test of time.
A Gothic and stained glass stunner in Nob Hill, Grace Cathedral is another San Francisco institution that stretches back to the California Gold Rush days. Today, it’s known for liberal and eclectic offerings, including donation-based yoga held on the interior labyrinth every Tuesday evening.
Hotel Utah
Before the Bay Bridge, when South of Market (SoMa) was a barren strip of waterfront, there was Hotel Utah — an escape for gold-seekers, opium users, politicians, prostitutes and gamblers in search of a stiff ale, delivered by horse and carriage from Utah. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio are said to have rendezvoued in the saloon as well as the upstairs hotel, and Whoopi Goldberg and the late Robin Williams were once stars of the still-running open mic night.
Mission Dolores
That historic landmark that all the hipsters stare at from the top of Dolores Park is both the oldest intact mission in California and the oldest building in San Francisco — founded on June 29, 1776. Explore the cemetery and gardens or hop on a docent tour (reservations required.) The mission also has an active parish that welcomes a diverse array of residents and visitors and puts on special events throughout the year.
Old Ship Saloon
During a wild storm in 1849, a ship crashed into Alcatraz and was later towed to this spot at Pacific and Battery streets: today’s Old Ship Saloon. Bootleggers, gamblers and sailors all frequented the broken hull, setting the scene for one of the city’s first saloons.
The Palace Hotel
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Palace Hotel, Garden Court Restaurant, San Francisco by Jamie McCaffrey (CC BY 2.0)
Built in 1875 and billed as the most costly hotel in the world, the Palace Hotel was remodeled after the 1906 earthquake and fire and today features stained glass, Austrian crystal chandeliers and the 1909 Maxfield Parrish mural “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.”
Swan Oyster Depot
Arrive early to score a bar stool at this New Orleans-style seafood counter, famous for its chowder, crab and namesake oysters. The place looks like it hasn’t been remodeled since opening.
Tadich Grill
Started as a coffee stand in 1849, Tadich is now San Francisco’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, nicknamed “The Original Cold Day Restaurant.” White aprons and ties, a charcoal grill and San Francisco staples like Crab Louie, cioppino and a fine martini have legendary status.
The Saloon
Opened in 1861, the Saloon is another contender for oldest bar in San Francisco (take that up with Elixir and the Old Ship). It’s also credited as one of the best blues joints in SF.
Tosca Cafe
Tosca stayed alive during Prohibition by importing a coffee machine from Italy and claiming cafe status. It’s been a hangout for everyone from A-list celebrities to hippies to beatniks to today’s techies. Tosca has been renovated in the past few years and is now making a new name for itself.
Discover more about SF’s past on a historic walking tour or by following the Barbary Coast Trail.
– Contributed by Serena Renner
San Francisco Institutions: At Least 100 Years Old from San Francisco Things to Do