Philippine Butterfly

The city of Yerba Buena in the 1830′s was a small Mexican pueblo near the Pacific Ocean; today, it’s one of the world’s most famous cities with one of the world’s most famous bridges — San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. This historic city’s most historic site is known as Portsmouth Plaza , once simply a square in that long ago pueblo and is now known as the heart of Chinatown where residents gather for tai chi exercises, Chinese chess games, and other activities.

This one block plaza is bounded by Walter Lum Place to the west, Washington Street to the north, Kearny Street to the east, and Clay Street to the South. Portsmouth was the first public square of the city, established as far back as the early 1800s. In the Mexican-American War, John Berrien Montgomery, captain of the USS Portsmouth took the pueblo for the United States, and the first flag on July 9th, 1846, was raised here.

In addition, in 1847, this plaza saw the first public school in California built here; in 1848, Sam Brannan announced the discovery of gold and showed his findings to a crowd. It was a spot for memorials, such as the service held following the death of Zachary Taylor, the 12th president of the United States. On October 29, 1850, the First Admission Day celebration was held here when California joined the union as the 31st state. In 1971, director Don Siegal filmed a portion of the movie “Dirty Harry” in this square.

Amid the famous architecture and streets, amid the five star hotels in San Francisco , this small square stands out for its historical significance, and it’s filled with markers to prove it. Travelers will find a marker that commemorates the first American flag raised in Yerba Buena. There’s a marker for the first public school, a marker to Robert Louis Stevenson, as well as a statue of the Goddess of Democracy. If you decide to visit this history-steeped site, there should be no trouble with parking; below the square, there’s a four level underground parking garage , which holds on average fifty thousand vehicles a month.

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