National Trust Guide/San Francisco: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (National Trust City Guides) [Paperback]

Peter Booth Wiley (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Trust City Guides | Publication Date: September 26, 2000

National Trust guides are the most in-depth guides available to the history and architecture of U.S. cities. From famous landmarks to back alleys, they take you on exciting journeys through America's cultural, historical, and architectural treasures.

The complete guide to the history and architecture of San Francisco Part history, part travel guide, this unique book introduces you to the colorful past and diverse traditions that have shaped the fascinating city of San Francisco. From the arrival of the Spanish in the late eighteenth century to the growth of today's vibrant metropolis, you'll discover the links between the rich history and architectural heritage of one of America's most beloved cities.

Follow the book's outstanding walking tours as you explore the remnants of the Gold Rush era city and the early neighborhoods of Telegraph Hill, Chinatown, and South of Market. You'll also enjoy the beautiful Beaux-Arts mansions of Pacific Heights, the striking Queen Anne residences of Haight-Ashbury, the converted warehouses of the Multi-Media Gulch, and much more.
* 20 detailed neighborhood walking tours and easy-to-follow maps
* Colorful stories behind the city's best known landmarks
* 200 vintage and contemporary photographs

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

National Trust guides are the most in-depth guides available to the history and architecture of U.S. cities. From famous landmarks to back alleys, they take you on exciting journeys through America's cultural, historical, and architectural treasures.

The complete guide to the history and architecture of San Francisco Part history, part travel guide, this unique book introduces you to the colorful past and diverse traditions that have shaped the fascinating city of San Francisco. From the arrival of the Spanish in the late eighteenth century to the growth of today's vibrant metropolis, you'll discover the links between the rich history and architectural heritage of one of America's most beloved cities.

Follow the book's outstanding walking tours as you explore the remnants of the Gold Rush era city and the early neighborhoods of Telegraph Hill, Chinatown, and South of Market. You'll also enjoy the beautiful Beaux-Arts mansions of Pacific Heights, the striking Queen Anne residences of Haight-Ashbury, the converted warehouses of the Multi-Media Gulch, and much more.
* 20 detailed neighborhood walking tours and easy-to-follow maps
* Colorful stories behind the city's best known landmarks
* 200 vintage and contemporary photographs

About the Author

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (September 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471191205
• ISBN-13: 978-0471191209
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #475,480 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Attention San Francisco AIA, Publish a guide., May 1, 2002

By 

Eric Leventhal (Bflo, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: National Trust Guide/San Francisco: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (National Trust City Guides) (Paperback)

My third day in San Francisco, I left the National Trust Guide to San Francisco in my room. It is not the architectural guide book I expected it to be. Dry and talky, the book is long on background and short on facts about individual buildings. Dozens of intriguing buildings are omitted and there is almost nothing about engineering. Peter Wiley's book may be a decent introduction to the city, but reading it did not heighten my anticipation before flying west, or strengthen my appreciation after arriving.

The weaknesses of this guide stand in contrast to the strengths of the AIA guides to major cities. These architect-written guides are exhaustive. The Boston, Chicago and New York books in particular make excellent travel guides as well as desk references. They mix building descriptions with history, and delightful nuggets of information that deepen your appreciation of the place and its builders. There's nothing dry about these books. When it comes to criticism, the editors can be delightfully bitchy.

Between politics and earthquakes, San Francisco is not an easy place to build. But SF AIA members, please find the time to draft a guide your craft and your city deserve. One that is worth schlepping up and down the hills.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wiley Knows This City!, September 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: National Trust Guide/San Francisco: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (National Trust City Guides) (Paperback)

Peter Wiley takes the reader on a great tour of San Francisco. A perfect gift for a friends who's visiting or those of us who live here in San Francisco. I found a number of hidden treasures that I honestly didn't know about before reading this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes the history of San Francisco come alive, February 25, 2001

By 

A. C. Asher (Bethesda, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Trust Guide/San Francisco: America's Guide for Architecture and History Travelers (National Trust City Guides) (Paperback)

This thorough history of San Francisco combined with several walking tours makes the past palpable to those here today. His vivid descriptions of San Francisco from the frontier days to the present significantly illuminate the many walking tours through the city. I have recommended the book to others curious about why this city has its unique look and feel.