San Francisco History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bay Area Rapid Transit

The BART electric train system started operating in 1972. It now has more than 100 miles of track, and has stations from SF to the East Bay and peninsula. The extension to SFO airport opened in 2003.

Answer: April 18, 1906

For many, many decades afterwards survivors of the 1906 earthquake gathered every year at Lotta's Fountain in San Francisco at 5.12am.

Answer: Lombard Street

You can still drive down Lombard street today--but go slowly!

Answer: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, 1937, the original Carquinez Bridge opened May 21, 1927, the Carquinez Bridge on November 25, 1958, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge opened on September 1, 1956. In 2003, a brand new Carquinez Bridge opened; it is called the Al Zampa Bridge.

Answer: Angel

Angel Island offers guided tours, where, on the old housing, you can still see some of the immigrants' inscriptions written in Chinese.

Answer: 1958

The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles the same year.

Answer: Seals Stadium

Seals Stadium, once the home of the San Francisco Seals and San Francisco Missions of the Pacific Coast League, was the Giants' home when they moved to SF in 1958. It was demolished after the 1959 season. The Giants moved to Candlestick Park in 1960, and started play at new Pacific Bell Park in 2000. (Kezar was once home to the SF 49ers of football.)

Answer: fog

For example, in the summer of 2000, the city had a record 103 degree day in June; 2 days later, there was a beautiful blanket of fog over the city in the early morning.

Answer: John Muir National Historic Site

The John Muir National Historic Site is in Martinez, CA, in Contra Costa County. Martinez is also the birthplace of baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, who grew up in San Francisco.

Answer: Ghirardelli

At the flagship site in San Francisco, you can enjoy a sundae or float from the soda fountain, and even watch part of the chocolate-making process. (Colombo is a baking corporation, Hershey chocolate is based in Pennsylvania, and See's is a candy corporation founded in 1921 and known for its black and white stores.)

Answer: Fort Point

Troops were withdrawn from Fort Point in 1886. It was used as a base for building the Golden Gate Bridge from 1933-1937, and is now a national historic site. (Fort Mason is also in San Francisco, but near Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Smith is in Arkansas, and Fort Ross, which is on the northern CA coast, was settled by Russians from 1812-1841.)

Answer: sourdough bread

Some famous local sourdough breadmakers are Colombo, Toscana, and Parisian. In San Francisco, clam chowder is often served in a sourdough bowl.

Answer: Alcatraz

After the great earthquake and fire of 1906, prisoners from burned-out SF jails were transferred to Alcatraz. It's one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco.

Answer: Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio was born in nearby Martinez, CA, and played baseball on that same North Beach neighborhood playground as a youngster.

Answer: Emperor Norton

Joshua Abraham Norton was born in London. As "Emperor," San Francisco restaurants allowed him to dine free. In 1869, he proposed a bridge be built across San Francisco Bay. A man working in SF for a newspaper at this time later revealed that he had based a character, "King," on Emperor Norton.

This newspaperman and future author was named Samuel Clemens and the book is "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Answer: Treasure Island

Treasure Island was later used as a U.S. Navy base. It closed as a military base in the the 1990s and was developed for housing and business.

Answer: Playland-at-the-Beach

"It's-It" ice cream sandwiches continue to be available. They're chocolate-covered sandwiches held together with cookies. They come with chocolate, vanilla, mint, and capuccino ice cream. Yum!

Answer: they are all set at least partly in San Francisco

"The Frisco Kid" is set in a time period long before the Golden Gate Bridge was built; Sean Connery of "The Rock" is not from San Francisco; "Time after Time" and "Vertigo" have no scenes on Alcatraz.

Answer: cable car

The cable cars go about 9 miles (15km) an hour. Ride hanging on the outside if you're able to.

Answer: Johnny Mathis

Jeanette MacDonald who created the 1936 song "San Francisco" ("San Francisco, open your golden gate") is famous, but was born in Philadelphia, PA; Tony Bennett's signature song is "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," but he is a native of Astoria, NY; Mel Torme was born in Chicago, IL, although his nickname, "The Velvet Fog", would be appropriate for a native of San Francisco.