Monkey Block San Francisco's Golden History

Feb 17 2025 35 ep. 31 mins 2
Monkey Block San Francisco's Golden History Podcast artwork

Retelling forgotten stories from San Francisco's golden past, 1776 - 1906, based on newspapers, books, and personal accounts, of the time. San Francisco enthusiasts, California gold rush fans, and garden variety history geeks can discover this boom and bust city, built on the discovery of gold. Ho boys ho! For Californio! *I do my best to accurately reflect the facts, and sources, in my episodes.*

  History  Society & Culture
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Interview with author Terry Hamburg "Land of the Dead, How the West Changed Death in America"

Feb 17 2025 39 mins  
This episode is an interview with author Terry Hamburg, who wrote a very interesting book on all things dying, death, and burial in San Francisco history. We cover the earliest history of Colma and specifically discuss one cemetery, Cypress Lawn. This subject matter might not be for everyone, but please know I approach the discussion about the history of death and burials in San Fr

S4 E5 Was Montgomery's Landing "near this spot"?

Dec 16 2024 36 mins  
The history I’ve read regarding July 9th, 1846, states that the USS Portsmouth pulled up to the shoreline at Montgomery and Clay Street, marines disembarked from the ship and onto land, then marched up Clay Street to raise the American flag in Portsmouth Square. It’s stated as if the soldiers stepped off the ship and directly onto land. But, is that accurate? monkeyblocksf@gmai

S4 Ep4 Drinking in Yerba Buena 1847 - Seven Rules and Regulations at Public Houses

Oct 27 2024 39 mins  
Have you ever felt like some stories should feel more connected than they do in your brain but instead they feel like untethered facts that are somehow connected? This episode is about just that. I want to understand how my past few episodes fit together, since they feel stand alone. I revisit some of my recently covered sources which might point me in the right direction. monkeybl

S4 Ep3 The Laws of the Town of San Francisco 1847 "Your Water Has a Strange After Taste"

Sep 16 2024 43 mins  
By January 30, 1847, the Pueblo de Yerba Buena was officially renamed the Town of San Francisco. Mexican laws weren't very well written, if written at all, which left the US military in charge of creating order in a land (Alta California), that wasn't used to having rules. This episode is a discussion between Girlina and architectural historian, Jonathon Lammers, regarding the Laws

S4 Ep2 Give Me Back My Horse, Charles Weber, Part 2 of the Battle of Santa Clara

Aug 09 2024 40 mins  
In the last episode I discussed the lead up to the Battle of Santa Clara. I chased this rabbit hole of a topic to figure out why Washington Allon Bartlett, Yerba Buena's first American alcalde, was missing for a period of time during his very short term in office. How are these two items connected? Listen and find out. [email protected] (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzs

S4 Ep1 The Spaniards Are in the Brush Part 1 Prelude to the Battle of Santa Clara

Jun 26 2024 51 mins  
Today’s episode is about the changing landscape of Yerba Buena from July 1846 - 1847, just after the US takeover and the early broken promises to Californios. In the middle of all the changes, Yerba Buena's first American appointed Alcalde, Washington Allon Bartlett, goes missing, and it has everything to do with ... cows. Were the Spaniards really hiding in the brush? Listen and

S3 Ep7 3rd Yr in Review, Sparkletack Interview Host Richard Miller

Apr 20 2024 41 mins  
Listen to me fan girl Richard Miller, the host of Sparkletack. The original podcast on San Francisco history, 2006 - 2009. I modeled my podcast after Sparkletack so getting to interview him was a huge honor. [email protected] (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/mo

S3 Ep6 Part 2 of Interview with Edwin Bryant

Mar 23 2024 32 mins  
Today, we do not cover Edwin Bryant's best 1848-selling book but I do have a friendly conversation, with Mr. Bryant. Please sit back and enjoy the rest of my talk with Edwin Bryant. [email protected] (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) fa

S3 Ep5 Interview With Edwin Bryant, 1848 Best Selling Author

Feb 04 2024 36 mins  
Today, I virtually interview Edwin Bryant, the author of the 1848 best seller, “What I Saw in California, Journal of a Tour, 1846- 1847”. Through the magic of AI generated voices, I simulate a virtual conversation with Edwin Bryant; a journalist, turned overland traveler, turned the second American Alcalde of Yerba Buena, and then finally, a bestselling author. About 95% of the

S3 Ep4 Where Juana Lived - Jonathan Lammers Interview

Jan 01 2024 33 mins  
Today’s episode is an interview with a new listener and accidental friend of Monkey Block’s Facebook Page that led to IMs on Facebook, a rabbit hole on Juana Briones, and then to an online interview. [email protected] (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkey