Nob Hill, San Francisco, California
Encyclopedia
Nob Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California
, centered on the intersection of California
and Powell streets. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."
. To the east is San Francisco's Chinatown and a little farther, the city's financial district. Northeast of Nob Hill is North Beach and Telegraph Hill
. North of Nob Hill is Russian Hill, and eventually, the tourist-centered areas of the waterfront such as Pier 39
and Fisherman's Wharf.
, founder of Stanford University
and other members of The Big Four.
The neighborhood was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire
, except for the granite walls surrounding the Stanford, Crocker, Huntington and Hopkins mansions. Those walls remain and you can see black scars caused by smoke from the intense fires that burned after the quake.
Also gutted by the fires was the newly completed Fairmont Hotel at Mason and California Streets, as well as the mansion
of tycoon James Flood. Both structures had stone exteriors that survived the fires. So though gutted by fire both buildings were rebuilt. The Fairmont Hotel remains in operation to this day and the Flood Mansion is the headquarters of the exclusive Pacific-Union Club
.
While the neighborhood was able to maintain its affluence following the quake, every mansion owner moved or rebuilt elsewhere. Some rebuilt mansions further west in San Francisco, for example, in Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow. In place of where the mansions had been located, swank hotels were erected. Hotels built over the ruins of the former mansions include the Mark Hopkins, Huntington and Stanford Court.
Since the 1990s, Chinatown to Nob Hill's east has been expanding into the neighborhood, shifting all but the very top of Nob Hill to a Chinese
demographic and characteristic.
, and a growing Chinese immigrant population from a slowly encroaching Chinatown to the east. Sometimes it is sarcastically referred to as Snob Hill (in fact, "nob" is a slang term meaning "wealthy and distinguished person", possibly influenced by the word "nabob
", and thus similar in meaning to "snob").The intersection of California and Powell streets is the location of its four well-known and most expensive hotels: the Fairmont Hotel, the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Stanford Court
, and the Huntington Hotel
. Interestingly, they represent also three names out of The Big Four (i.e. Stanford, Hopkins & Huntington). The Fairmont is also named for a San Francisco tycoon, James G. Fair
.
Opposite the Fairmont Hotel and Pacific Union Club is Grace Cathedral one of the city's largest Cathedrals (the Cathedral is "copy" of France's Notre Dame cathedral). The state Masonic Temple is also located across from the church.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, centered on the intersection of California
California Street (San Francisco)
California Street is a major thoroughfare in San Francisco, California. Fifty-four blocks of California Street, from Van Ness Avenue westward to 32nd Avenue, comprised the last major leg of the final 1928 alignment of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America, leading out to the highway's...
and Powell streets. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."
Location
The actual peak of Nob Hill lies slightly to the northwest, approximately at the intersection of Jones and Sacramento Streets. South of Nob Hill is the shopping district of Union Square, the Tenderloin neighborhood, and Market StreetMarket Street (San Francisco)
Market Street is an important thoroughfare in San Francisco, California. It begins at The Embarcadero in front of the Ferry Building at the northeastern edge of the city and runs southwest through downtown, passing the Civic Center and the Castro District, to the intersection with Corbett Avenue in...
. To the east is San Francisco's Chinatown and a little farther, the city's financial district. Northeast of Nob Hill is North Beach and Telegraph Hill
Telegraph Hill, San Francisco
Telegraph Hill refers to a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of San Francisco's 44 hills, and one of its original "Seven Hills."-Location:...
. North of Nob Hill is Russian Hill, and eventually, the tourist-centered areas of the waterfront such as Pier 39
Pier 39
Pier 39 is a shopping center and popular tourist attraction built on a pier in San Francisco, California. At Pier 39, there are shops, restaurants, a video arcade, street performances, an interpretive center for the Marine Mammal Center, the Aquarium of the Bay, virtual 3D rides, and views of...
and Fisherman's Wharf.
History
The area was settled in the rapid urbanization happening in the city in the late 19th century. Because of the views and its central position, it became an exclusive enclave of the rich and famous on the west coast who built large mansions in the neighborhood. This included prominent tycoons such as Leland StanfordLeland Stanford
Amasa Leland Stanford was an American tycoon, industrialist, robber baron, politician and founder of Stanford University.-Early years:...
, founder of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and other members of The Big Four.
The neighborhood was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
, except for the granite walls surrounding the Stanford, Crocker, Huntington and Hopkins mansions. Those walls remain and you can see black scars caused by smoke from the intense fires that burned after the quake.
Also gutted by the fires was the newly completed Fairmont Hotel at Mason and California Streets, as well as the mansion
James C. Flood Mansion
James C. Flood Mansion, also known as Pacific-Union Club, in San Francisco, California, USA, was a townhouse for James C. Flood, a 19th century silver-baron. It was the first brownstone building built west of the Mississippi River. With The Fairmont Hotel, the only buildings on Nob Hill to...
of tycoon James Flood. Both structures had stone exteriors that survived the fires. So though gutted by fire both buildings were rebuilt. The Fairmont Hotel remains in operation to this day and the Flood Mansion is the headquarters of the exclusive Pacific-Union Club
Pacific-Union Club
The Pacific-Union Club is a private social club located at 1000 California Street in San Francisco, California, at the top of Nob Hill. It was founded in 1889 as a merger of two earlier clubs: the Pacific Club and the Union Club ....
.
While the neighborhood was able to maintain its affluence following the quake, every mansion owner moved or rebuilt elsewhere. Some rebuilt mansions further west in San Francisco, for example, in Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow. In place of where the mansions had been located, swank hotels were erected. Hotels built over the ruins of the former mansions include the Mark Hopkins, Huntington and Stanford Court.
Since the 1990s, Chinatown to Nob Hill's east has been expanding into the neighborhood, shifting all but the very top of Nob Hill to a Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
demographic and characteristic.
Attractions and characteristics
Nob Hill is an affluent district, home to many of the city's upper class families as well as a large young urban professional populationYuppie
Yuppie is a term that refers to a member of the upper middle class or upper class in their 20s or 30s. It first came into use in the early-1980s and largely faded from American popular culture in the late-1980s, due to the 1987 stock market crash and the early 1990s recession...
, and a growing Chinese immigrant population from a slowly encroaching Chinatown to the east. Sometimes it is sarcastically referred to as Snob Hill (in fact, "nob" is a slang term meaning "wealthy and distinguished person", possibly influenced by the word "nabob
Nabob
A nabob, an English form of "nawab", is a merchant-leader of high social status and wealth.Nabob may also refer to:*Nabob , a brand of coffee in Canada*HMS Nabob , a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier...
", and thus similar in meaning to "snob").The intersection of California and Powell streets is the location of its four well-known and most expensive hotels: the Fairmont Hotel, the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the Stanford Court
Stanford Court Hotel
The Stanford Court Renaissance San Francisco is a Marriott Renaissance Hotel at 905 California Street on Nob Hill in San Francisco, California. The hotel is located between Fisherman's Wharf and Union Square and is directly on the cable car line. It has 393 rooms on eight floors. All the rooms have...
, and the Huntington Hotel
Huntington Hotel (San Francisco)
The Huntington Hotel is one of the landmark luxury hotels at the top of the Nob Hill district of San Francisco, California. It is located at 1075 California Street, cross street is Taylor Street. The hotel is a twelve-story, Georgian-style brick building that features 135 guest rooms and suites.-...
. Interestingly, they represent also three names out of The Big Four (i.e. Stanford, Hopkins & Huntington). The Fairmont is also named for a San Francisco tycoon, James G. Fair
James Graham Fair
James Graham Fair was the overnight millionaire part-owner of the Comstock Lode, a United States Senator and a colorful real estate and railroad speculator.-Early life:...
.
Opposite the Fairmont Hotel and Pacific Union Club is Grace Cathedral one of the city's largest Cathedrals (the Cathedral is "copy" of France's Notre Dame cathedral). The state Masonic Temple is also located across from the church.
Parks
Though Nob Hill is a very densely-built neighborhood, there are parks at which residents and visitors can relax and enjoy the outdoors. The parks are owned and maintained by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. The most prominent park in the neighborhood is Huntington Park, which takes up an entire block, bounded by Sacramento Street to the north, Taylor Street to the west, California Street to the south, and Cushman Street to the east. Huntington Park was formerly the site of the mansion of Central Pacific Railroad baron Collis P. Huntington; the mansion was detroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, however, and Mr. Huntington's widow donated the property to the city to establish a park in 1915. Huntington Park has a playground for children, landscaping, and several fountains. Washington & Hyde Mini Park is situated on a single lot between two apartment buildings on the north side of Washington Street, between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street. Washington & Hyde Mini Park has a playground for children, landscaping, and public restrooms.See also
- Mark Hopkins Hotel
- Russian Hill
- 49-Mile Scenic Drive49-Mile Scenic DriveThe 49-Mile Scenic Drive in San Francisco highlights many of the city's major attractions and historic structures.Opened on September 14, 1938 as a promotion for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, it...
- List of hills in San Francisco
- "Nob Hill" is also a neighborhood in Northwest Portland, OregonPortland, OregonPortland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, also known as the Alphabet Historic District from its street-naming system. It has many historic Victorian and Craftsman homes dating to the 19th and early 20th centuries. - "Nob Hill" is also a neighborhood in Albuquerque east of the University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
.