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1950 Map of San Francisco North

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of San Francisco North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

San Francisco's northern waterfront and the Golden Gate dominate this 1950 survey, showcasing a city in its mid-century prime. The urban landscape is dense with historical detail, from the heights of Nob Hill and Telegraph Hill to the complex rail yards at the AT & SF Freight Yards near China Basin. The era's transportation network is clearly defined by the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, while the S P Passenger Ferry still serves the Ferry Building.

Military presence is a defining characteristic of the landscape, with significant installations at the Presidio Military Reservation, Fort Mason Military Res, and Fort McDowell on Angel Island. Cultural and educational landmarks like Mission Dolores, the De Young Museum, and the Univ of San Francisco are situated among the grid of named streets including Market St and Mission St. From the isolated outpost of Alcatraz Island to the sprawling Golden Gate Park, this map records the delicate balance between the city’s intense development and its massive coastal defenses.