Victorian in Setting - Charm of Long Ago...
Union Street offers all the charm and services of an old-fashioned shopping street where you could find virtually anything you need on foot. The Union Street Shopping District contains some of the City's best eateries, art galleries, fine jewelry stores and trendy boutiques.
The street is long, so plan on spending at least half a day exploring up and down the street - don't forget to miander up and down the cross streets as well - you will find some real gems off the beaten track. Breakfast, lunch or dinner at the great restaurants and cafes will definitely spike the enjoyment of your shopping day!
Octagon House
One of five such houses in early San Francisco, this octagonal house was built by William C. McElroy in 1861. Mr. McElroy's letter, "To Future Ages," and newspapers accompanying it, which were discovered in a tin box under the stairs during restoration, are displayed in Octagon House. In 1951, when The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in California acquired Octagon House, it was across Gough Street from its present location. Vacant for many years, it was in a state of disrepair and fortunately the Society's offer to its owner to move and restore it was accepted. Full story of Octacgon House.
History Of Union Street
San Francisco's fascinating history provides the setting for the rich architectural flavor of the Union Street area. In 1776 when San Francisco's first settlement was established on the Presidio, Cow Hollow was filled with freshwater springs, grassy meadows and sand hills inhabited by wildlife. It was not until the mid-1800s that settlers came to the area, then known as Spring Valley, and soon began farming around a large lagoon. It wasn't long before dairy farming became the predominant activity; hence the name Cow Hollow, which has survived to the present. Union Street follows the unpaved road which once linked the developing city with the Presidio.. More history.
