| The Franciscan mission of San Francisco de Asis and a Spanish military post were founded on the Laguna de los Dolores, near the northern end of peninsula, in 1776. The gold rush in 1848 "boom" the population from 2,000 in February, to 6,000 in August and 20,000 to the end of the year. Devastated by the 1906 earthquake and fire, the city was rebuilt in the three years following the earthquake. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was opened in 1936 and the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. Today, San Francisco is the fourth-largest city in California, known for its landmarks, its bohemian and artistic life, wonderful food, gorgeous views, sparkling nightlife and prestigious performing arts. |
