In 1878, a photographer named Eadweard Muybridge created amazing panoramic views of San Francisco. He was already famous for his large photos of Yosemite Valley, which made him known around the world. For this project, he used 13 cameras placed on the tower of the unfinished Mark Hopkins Mansion. Each camera captured a different part of the city.
These panorama photos give us a clear look at what San Francisco looked like back then. The cityscape shows buildings that were much smaller than today’s skyscrapers. You can see streets filled with horse-drawn carriages instead of cars. Some of the hills are covered in houses, while others still have open spaces.
Muybridge’s work was special because he cared about details. His cameras allowed him to capture wide angles of the landscape. This gave people a full view of the area from one end to the other. At the time, not many photographers tried projects like this, so his effort stood out.
The photos also show how much the city had grown since it became a major port during the Gold Rush. New businesses and homes lined the streets, showing signs of progress. But you can still spot natural features, like the bay and mountains, framing the city.
Eadweard Muybridge’s technique wasn’t easy. Setting up so many cameras took planning and skill. He had to make sure each shot lined up perfectly to create one continuous image. His hard work paid off by giving future generations a valuable record of San Francisco’s past.
