San Francisco might be the world’s most picturesque city, with a landmark around every corner. Yet, the Golden City is so much more than postcard views. Fred Lyon has been photographing San Francisco for 70 years, and his fascination with this city filled with creative types and innovators began at an early age.
Here are some fascinating historical photographs from San Francisco in the 1940s until 1960 that offer a glimpse of the California city. A rush of optimism and opportunity washed over it after the destitution after World War II began to subside.