Postcard Greetings from San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco is known for its cultural, financial, and commercial significance. It is a popular tourist destination. The city is famous for its Golden Gate Bridge, steep streets, and Alcatraz Island. San Francisco has 44 billionaires, most of whom made their fortunes in the tech industry. It boasts world class universities such as Stanford University and University of California at Berkeley.
Discovery of Yerba Buena
San Francisco was discovered by Gaspar de Portola. He led a Spanish expedition in 1769 and found the bay. It was originally called Yerba Buena. Spanish settlers lead by Juan de Anza founded the city in 1776. San Francisco gained independence from Spain and became a part of Mexico in the 1800s. It gained independence from Spain in 1821 and became a part of the United States in 1848 at the end of the Mexican-American War.
Aftermath of 1906 Earthquake
1906 earthquake in San Francisco was a major disaster. It killed more than 3,000 people and destroyed over 80% of the city. Newer buildings such as the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco and San Jose city hall are designed to comply with strict earthquake requirements in the building code.
