HISTORY LIVE!
The San Francisco Historical Society and the Museum of San Francisco, in-partnership with Strategic Development Studios, produce the widely popular History Live! monthly education series that is live streamed in front of an in-person live studio audience.
Film Archive
We preserve San Francisco's history for future generations by producing and maintaining a film archive of all our professional productions.
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Below you will find our complete archive of professional films which can be viewed free of charge thanks to the generosity of our donors!
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We also encourage businesses, individuals, and foundations to sponsor the History Live! series. More information below.
Uncle Billy was a Banker, General W.T. Sherman’s Escapades in Gold Rush San Francisco. Aired January, 2024.
Anchor Brewing Company, a San Francisco Legacy. Aired February, 2024.
Beyond Kearny Street: Filipinos in San Francisco, 1900-1940. Aired January, 2025.
Uncle Billy was a Banker, General W.T. Sherman’s Escapades in Gold Rush San Francisco. Aired January, 2024.
2025 Broadcasts
George Moscone and the Making of Modern San Francisco
Presented by Lincoln Mitchell
Today some may think of George Moscone as a career politician who was assassinated along with Harvey Milk, but there was much more to this influential and fascinating man’s story. He was a trailblazing progressive and powerful state legislator who was instrumental in passing legislation on issues ranging from LGBT rights to funding for school lunches.
Lincoln Mitchell discusses in this film his new biography of George Moscone, Three Years Our Mayor: George Moscone and the Making of Modern San Francisco. It focuses on how Moscone’s life and the history of San Francisco during the middle half of the twentieth century are deeply intertwined and provides important insight into how San Francisco became the city it is today.
Shaping San Francisco’s Urban Design:
Anna and Lawrence Halprins’ Artistic Legacy
Presented by Janice Ross
Anna and Lawrence Halprin are the hidden designers of public life in San Francisco. As the Bay Area’s most famous and under-explored artistic couple, this dancer and landscape architect duo transformed the city into a theatrical stage beginning in the rebellious 1960s. Larry designed signature outdoor spaces that help define the city’s identity, including the Ghirardelli Square adaptive-reuse project, Levi’s Plaza, and Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio. Anna made the city streets her stage, presenting offbeat events like Blank Placard Dance, a 1967 protest performed by dancers carrying blank placards along Market Street, and Hangar, a performance staged by dancers trespassing on San Francisco Airport under construction the 1950s. The Halprins were teachers as much as artists. In the 1970s, working from her Divisadero Street studio, Anna built one of the nation’s first racially diverse dance companies. In the early 1980s, she created the first dance groups for HIV-positive men, based at Fort Mason.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti: A Singular Voice
Presented by Jim McKee
Earwax Productions, Inc. is an award-winning sound design, mixing, and recording studio in North Beach that has been “surrounded in sound and its possibilities since 1983.” Listen to a special evening of stories and sounds from Earwax Productions co-founder Jim McKee, longtime collaborator and friend of Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
This presentation provides an intimate tour of a rich audio archive of Ferlinghetti’s singular voice through the lens of Jim’s unique and personal perspective. Moderated by Chris Buck, lifelong Ferlinghetti enthusiast and founder of Ferlinghetti Day.
The Tonga Room: From Swimming Pool to Tiki Hut
Presented by Eric Jost
Step aboard the S.S. Tonga as we dive headfirst into the mesmerizing history of the world-famous Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar! Since 1945, this themed restaurant and bar has been a go-to destination for San Francisco locals and visitors alike. Get ready to unravel the secrets behind the transformation of the Fairmont Hotel’s pool into the ultimate hub for a nautical-themed bar, evolving gradually into the beloved indoor tropical paradise we know and love today. Discover how the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar defied extinction in the early-2000’s, emerging even more popular than ever before.
Beyond Kearny Street: Filipinos in
San Francisco, 1900-1940
Presented by Teresa Ojeda
Filipino Americans are now the second largest Asian group in San Francisco, yet little is known about when and how they first settled in the city. The earliest Filipino community was believed to be that of young single men, mostly farm and cannery workers finding temporary housing in residential hotels along Kearny Street near Chinatown. A hostile society prevented them from marrying white women and limited their company with women in taxi dance halls; they were seen as transients who found recreation in pool halls and gambling dens. Join Teresa Ojeda as she re-examines these Filipino narratives.
2024 Broadcasts
The History of Ferryboats in the SF Bay Area
Presented by Charlie Walther, Maritime Engineer
Watch Charlie Walther present pictures, stories, and explanations chronicling the history of ferry boats—both the vessels themselves and their operations—on San Francisco Bay starting in 1847 to the present. Historic photos were shown to illustrate the scope of ferry services over the past 175 years. Changes in scale and technology were also discussed.
Queer San Francisco: A Century Before Stonewall Presented by Jim Van Buskirk
Watch Jim Van Buskirk as he discusses a visual chronology highlighting the surprising stories of pioneering Bay Area queer individuals, organizations, publications and events from 1869 to 1969.
This visual chronology highlights the surprising stories of pioneering Bay Area queer individuals, organizations, publications and events from 1869 to 1969. Explore 100 years of cultural, artistic and political anecdotes. Encounter fascinating characters like poets Elsa Gidlow, Robert Duncan, and Rod McKuen, lesbian icons Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas, and entertainer/activist José Sarria as well as transgender pioneers Babe Bean and Jenny O. Learn about arrests and raids and visit early bars, bookstores and bathhouses.
San Francisco’s First Mints and the Stories They Tell
Presented by Scott Griffin
Two mints in San Francisco helped the city in its infancy: in the face volatility during the Gold Rush of 1849, during its rapid growth in the years following, and through its development and maturation in the early 20th Century. These mints are, of course, the city’s first mint at 608 Commercial and its second mint on Fifth and Mission Streets. In spite of disaster, deception, and the passage of time, these institutions have proven their pivotal role in making San Francisco what it is today. On September 10, numismatic expert Scott Griffin will visit the site of the city’s first mint (now the SFHS Museum). He will examine coins from each mint and tell the story of each institution through a coin that it produced.
Curtain Going Up: Objects and Images from the Rich Mosaic That Has Defined Performances in SF
Presented by William Eddelman
Historic objects bring together all the performing arts in their complexity: a complexity that has celebrated the most esoteric and challenging to the most banal. In every instance we have celebrated the ways that the performing arts have opened our emotions and given us insights into aspects of our lives. We live through the performing arts, and they in return enrich us. These remaining objects and images, although inert, are the things that can give us some of the memories that have marked so many performances experienced and enjoyed. San Francisco has given us all of these. Watch Professor William Eddelman present treasures from the Museum of Performance + Design and the stories they represent about San Francisco.
Coming Out in Time
Presented by Lorri Ungaretti
In 1969, Lorri Ungaretti was a student at Lincoln High School, and her brother, John, was at UC Davis. John was gay but very quiet about it; only their mother and a few friends knew. But then he learned that Time magazine wanted to print his letter to the editor written in response to a short opinion piece in the magazine. In his letter, John said that he was homosexual and disagreed with some of what Time had written.
Lorri talked about the original article and John’s letter; John telling his sister, father, stepmother, and grandparents that he was gay; and the 100 letters he received from around the world.
The Spanish Settlement of San Francisco
Presented by Steve Johnson
The Portolá and Anza expeditions were instrumental in the settlement of what was later to become a major city in the United States. What motivated the Spanish to move north into Alta, California? Who were the first settlers? What was their journey like? What happened to the native tribes who had been here for many hundreds of years? These questions and more will be answered as you hear about the Spanish origins of our city.
Join Steve Johnson as he discusses the origins of Spanish settlers into San Francisco and their impact on native tribes, development of the port, and more.
The Heroes of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire Presented by Jack Grippi
In April 2024 we commemorated the 118th anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. During and after the city’s near complete destruction, numerous heroic stories abound of ordinary citizens, government employees, military personnel, and first responders who rose above great odds and placed themselves in mortal danger to save infrastructure, lives, or institutions. Their actions are inspiring, and their stories deserve to be remembered.
Jack Grippi is a native New Yorker who adopted San Francisco since retiring in 2014. After receiving his M.S. in geology from the University at Albany, Jack worked as a Petroleum Geologist for Occidental Oil and Gas.
Alcatraz, From Fort to Prison, Protest to Park
Presented by John Martini
Alcatraz Island’s history is more than just a short-lived federal penitentiary. Join retired National Park Ranger and historian John Martini to learn about Alcatraz as a Civil War fortress, a military prison for recalcitrant U.S. Army soldiers, a political prison for Confederate sympathizers, and a lockup for Native American warriors. Other important eras covered in John’s talk include the Indian Occupation of 1969-1971, Alcatraz in popular culture, the seldom-seen tunnels beneath the prison buildings, and the challenges of preserving the island’s aging infrastructure.
Anchor Brewing Company, a San Francisco Legacy
Presented by David Burkhart
By now, most San Franciscans are well aware that one of the city’s most cherished businesses—Anchor Brewing—closed its doors in 2023 after more than 127 years of operation. The SFHS Museum’s newest exhibit showcases some of the artifacts from the brewery, but there is much more of the story to be told. Join us for an evening with Anchor historian Dave Burkhart, who will share stories, anecdotes, and memories from his thirty-plus years of experiences at Anchor Brewing.
Uncle Billy was a Banker, General W.T. Sherman’s Escapades in Gold Rush San Francisco
Presented by Rick Lank
Every history buff knows the name of William T. Sherman, Union General who led the March to the Sea into the Carolinas. Few know that Sherman, as a young Army man, was in the thick of things during the Gold Rush, first dealing with mining disputes and then becoming a bank manager on Montgomery Street for the Lucas & Turner Banking House, which still stands. He also built a home for his young family on Rincon Hill. Join us in experiencing Gold Rush San Francisco through the eyes of the young W. T. Sherman – who arrived in Monterey and Yerba Buena in the summer of 1847 at the age of 27.
2023 Broadcasts
Philanthropic Ladies of San Francisco
Presented by Steve Johnson
Many ladies have shown their love of the city by leaving legacies which we continue to enjoy today. This talk will focus on Lotta Crabtree, Lillie Coit, Alma Spreckles, and Friedel Klussman, all of whom enriched the city in many ways by their activism and endowments. Join us as veteran speaker, teacher, and historian Steve Johnson provides insights into some of San Francisco’s leading philanthropic women.
Mt. Davidson Rediscovered
Presented by Jacqueline Proctor
San Francisco's highest hill, Mt. Davidson, is not on the tourist maps and has been rarely visited by locals. Yet it has been owned by the city's movers and shakers, is topped with a man-made forest which inspired a women's movement effort to save it as a city park, and its ownership has twice been contested before the CA State Supreme Court. Most recently the time capsule at the base of the gigantic cross installed there in 1934 and first lit before 50,000 people by FDR has revealed even more about the fascinating history of this little known part of San Francisco. See what was inside that 89 year old time capsule before it is stowed away and learn how this hilltop park and surrounding neighborhoods have been shaped by major events in San Francisco history.
Mad Ave Meets Golden Gate Park, Advertising, Souvenirs, and More
Presented by Chris Pollock
Part of our culture is based on the premise that someone’s worth allows them to earn money and, in turn, allows them to spend it on something they deem worthy. It’s the job of those advertising agencies, known by the moniker of Madison Avenue, to entice you to part with some cash in favor of their client’s product. With the fame of Golden Gate Park’s existence since 1870 has come the park’s use to sell many different kinds of things. For some it was the park’s co-location relative to residential real estate lots where the park was the “hook.” Also, there have been many forms of product promotion from grass seed, lawn mower, playground equipment, and canned fruits, to name a few. Souvenirs have also been another product to hawk. And none of these ever provided the park one red cent of income!
San Francisco's Cable Car Evolution
Presented by Taryn Edwards
Everyone knows the story about the horse car accident that Andrew Smith Hallidie witnessed in 1869 that purportedly set his mind in motion to develop the cable car. This is a wonderful story and surely helped sell the idea to a nervous public, but the reality is that Hallidie, and his father before him, spent much of their lives mulling over the problem of how to move people and things using the family's signature product: wire rope. Join historian Taryn Edwards as she explores the inventive life of Andrew Smith Hallidie and outlines the evolution of thought that led to the development of San Francisco's signature transportation system - the cable car!
San Francisco’s Garden Neighborhoods
Presented by Richard Brandi
Between 1905 and 1924, at least 36 residence parks such as St. Francis Wood and Seacliff were planned with picturesque streets, lush landscaping, detached houses, and setbacks to convey the feeling of living in a park. Most were built in the Richmond, Sunset, and around West Portal, but they were also envisioned for Twin Peaks, the Marina, the Outer Mission, Lake Merced, and even Visitation Valley. Despite the disruptions caused by WWI, a recession, inflation of the early 1920s, and the Depression of 1930s many distinctive neighborhoods were built containing about 7,500 houses. Richard Brandi is a historic preservation consultant, president of the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians, and was a board member of the Western Neighborhoods Project for 20 years.
50 Years of Collecting San Francisco's History
Presented by Ron Henggeler
For nearly half a century, Ron Henggeler has been collecting rare artifacts in San Francisco and around the Bay Area. His presentation will showcase photographs of relics from Ron’s vast collection, and the locations where the items were found. Items to be discussed include bottles and porcelain shards from the Gold Rush found near the Transamerica Pyramid; glass from the Sutro Baths; artifacts from the Collis Huntington mansion on Nob Hill; and debris from the landfill of the long-gone Mission Bay.
1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
Presented by Jack Grippi
The great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 is the most devastating natural disaster to befall a U.S. city. So what did San Francisco and field of earthquake science learn? With post-quake seminal reports linking the event with the natural and built environments, the modern field of earthquake science in the U.S. was born. This knowledge resulted in the City constructing the world’s largest municipal high-pressure water system (AWSS) and improving building methods. Although SF recognized the correlation between damage severity and “made ground,” the City did not fully embrace this fact.