Clarks Point And The Ship Brooklyn San Francisco 6 Editorial Photo

It is hard to imagine today, but almost all of what is now downtown San Francisco was originally under the waters of the San Francisco Bay. In 1848, where the current Broadway, between Battery and Front Streets are, was part of the original shoreline. It was here that the ship Brooklyn landed with a crew of two hundred Mormon settlers, under the leadership of elder Sam Brennan, and doubled the cities population, to settle in Mexico. By the time the ship landed, California was a brand new American State. Brennan went into real estate investments instead, becoming the states first millionaire. The following year, William Clark built the cities first wharf right here, one hundred fifty feet right out into the Bay. And his timing was perfect. Soon gold was discovered and an unending line of ships into the bay needed the wharf to quickly unload passengers and cargo. As seen 24 April 2024.