Monkey Block San Francisco's Golden History

This is a recording of my live talk at the San Francisco Historical Society, on September 9, 2022.  You can watch the live talk and see the accompanying slides here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boQslzG2XcQ&t=1867s monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monk...

 The Bear Flag Revolt is a pivotal point in California’s history, and the events that led up to the actual revolt are … just as complex as the actual event. Today we take a look at a few preceding storylines leading to the Bear Flag Revolt, give some backstory, some subplots, describe a few main characters, in not enough time to tell them all. There’s too much to know, so I’ll never know all there...

 In the last episode, we covered the early United States related history of John Sutter. Today, I pick up where I left off in John Sutter’s timeline.  This episode will be longer than my usual episodes, and, frankly, took more research than my other episodes, to ensure I had a solidified story to tell, but, it’s John Sutter … so, it’s hard to tell what’s fact from a creation of his mind.  If you e...

Today’s episode is about the complicated life of Johann Augustus Suter , better known as John Sutter. There is more to this man’s story than I anticipated, and, I went into this knowing there would be a lot to tell. I underestimated how much backstory there was before Sutter arrives in California. If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymea...

While my intro states I extract legends and tell the real stories, today’s episode is a mix of legends and real stories. Today, I am interviewing a connection made via this podcast. Today’s guest does San Francisco history ghost tours, focused on, surprise, surprise, early San Francisco history. At first blush, it doesn’t seem like a ghost tour and a history podcast have much in common, but, you m...

October 1842, Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones  believes he is about to place his name in the  records of American expansionist history, stating Mexico made a declaration of war against the United States, He plans to seize every California port from Yerba Buena to San Diego, before Mexico can enact their plan to sell California to England, to pay off debts. But, sometimes, things aren't what...

I launched my podcast, last year, 2021, on January 30. Over the past year, I’ve shared some fun stories about early San Francisco, changed my perspective of lots of things, and met new people, all while gathering information for my podcast. I am happy to say I have a one year anniversary. This episode is a reflection of Monkey Block’s first year, and, the journey we’ve been on, together.  monkeybl...

In previous episodes, I’ve mentioned the importance of Alta California’s Yerba Buena Cove to the overall commerce in the District of San Francisco, consisting of the local rancheros, the Mission, and other local inhabitants. This cove was advantageous, for being a year-round, protected spot for mooring, much better than the originally established Presidio of San Francisco.  My episodes, so far, ha...

I’m diving into Davis’ story because it directly captures Yerba Buena and early San Francisco history, with an insiders look at how one, socially, and financially privileged, foreigner, experienced Yerba Buena, among other … socially and financially privileged foreigners and Californios.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.co...

There are only a few foreigners who lived in Yerba Buena, Alta California, long enough to see the province go from Spanish, to Mexican, to American rule. A person who lived through all that, would have a unique perspective of early Yerba Buena, and California history.  William Heath Davis, is the most famous Yerba Buena/San Francisco resident, you’ve never heard of.  If you enjoyed this episode, a...

The largest misconception I had, coming into this, was that nothing of importance happened in Yerba Buena, until the United States arrived. That’s literally what I was taught in my college California History class, and a common theme you’ll find online. How did we collectively get to that idea, believing that Yerba Buena had nothing to offer? Yerba Buena being a ‘nothing little town’ is an example...

Today, I explain how Monkey Block came to be, and how the serendipity of the seawall stepped in. I interview the head bartender/part owner of the High Horse, at 582 Washington Street, San Francisco, and ask him about his connection to the seawall, and San Francisco history. This seawall has an unpredictable story to tell.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-t...

San Francisco history enthusiasts like me, already know about Clark’s Point. But, how many people know about Thompson’s Cove? And, what about Yerba Buena's first civic improvement? monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/M...

Today’s episode is based on what was meant to just be one paragraph, as I continued with the history of Yerba Buena, and the portion of the seawall from the last episode. However, I ran into a reeeally interesting tale, in Yerba Buena’s early history- a person whose story is worth telling. But, for reasons, some history never gets told. There’s an expression, “He who tells history, decides which h...

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s partially based on serendipity, in addition to my normal detective work. I focus on the early activity at the (still) unnamed Yerba Buena cove and the hide and tallow trading in the still named Mission San Francisco District.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf .  ...

We have the victors who usually write history, and the oppressed, who don’t have a lot of say in how their history gets captured. What’s interesting, is that sometimes the victor becomes the oppressed, and a new victor gets named.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf .   monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me dire...

 Sometimes, history gets buried, as our views on social topics change, and certain events become less favorable to the victor.  If you were raised in California, you had the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade California history lessons.  What do you recall about early California history, and the Missions?  Who decides how events get captured?  Why do some events get morphed from the reality, into fantastic s...

Yerba Buena to San Francisco  Today’s episode, how did San Francisco get its name? I’m born and raised in the immediate San Francisco Area, and I’ve grown up hearing ‘San Francisco was originally called Yerba Buena’. But, is that true? Let’s start my research journey, with San Francisco, before the United States official claim to the area. If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you...