San Francisco Streets in 1905

The first track from Airs’ Moon Safari album, accompanied by scenes from a video shot from a streetcar traveling down Market Street in San Francisco in 1905. Before the earthquake/fire of 1906 destroyed the area. Remarkable footage of the turn of the century lifestyles in California. Quite mesmerizing!

(via thedetourist)

6 Comments leave a comment below

  1. Wonderful! It is rare to see old film without the herky-jerky motion. The music track is also superb.

    I worked on Market street at various sites passed in this film between the years 1970 and 2000. I was at the Emporium during the 1989 earthquake… Like an idiot, having parked my motorcycle in the alley behind the Emporium, when the quake struck I dodged falling bricks and plaster while holding my motorcycle helmet in my hand, lacking the presence of mind to put the helmet on my head. Nothing like the 06 quake, though.

    Thanks for finding and posting this. Meaningful and moving.

  2. Fascinating to see traffic before traffic lights, crosswalks, traffic signs. People standing in the middle of the road, drivers abruptly veering accross the road at an angle. The pace of life was defintely different then. Lovely! Music well chosen too.

  3. Yes, fascinating. Fun too, to go straight to the same journey in Google Earth’s Street view.

  4. Check out the manuever at 6:15. Over a hundred years later and driving habits haven’t changed.

  5. I wonder how people felt at this time. Probably the same as we do today: Modern, fast, cool! Maybe a little less entangled in the web. ; )

  6. That’s delightful, thanks!