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, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.   

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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 of how perception can become the agreed upon reality. However, perception is one person’s opinion of reality, which may, or may not be … reality. But, when what you’re reading was written by the victor, one person’s perception has a way of shaping history, and therefore our sense of reality.

Please see the transcript for more details and links to my cited sources.

If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.   

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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-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.   

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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?

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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 history gets told”.

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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.  

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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.  

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 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 stories? 
•  While other events quietly get removed, and buried in the past? 

 If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.  

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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 can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf. 
 

[email protected] (email me directly)
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