Russian Hill 
Although very close to downtown Hill Russian Hill was sparsely populated and many people have decided to build there in his apartment. For most of the nineteenth century, rozbudowywało to the south and west, and the hill in the middle of town (because of the difficult accessibility) remained well isolated. More than hundred meter high summit was too steep for horse-drawn carriages, transporting construction materials. A few daredevils wooden houses built on the northern slope of the hill near Broadway and Taylor streets in early 1850.
decade later, he founded the observatory at the top of the spiral staircase, which from afar looks like a giant corkscrew. They were called Tower Jobson (Jobson's Tower) from the name of the owner and builder David Jobson, who charge a fee of 25 cents for the opportunity to watch the panorama of the city and the bay by mounted telescope there. Only at the end of the 80s Nineteenth century came the housing boom, and began populating the hills (mainly between Taylor streets, Broadway and Green). Homes that have arisen over the next two decades, and those of the early 50s Nineteenth century, survived the great fire that devastated the city after the earthquake in 1906. Unavailability of the hill saved the houses located there.
Whence comes the name of Russian Hill (Russian Hill), is not entirely clear. The most plausible hypothesis is: the hill was named in honor of Russian sailors buried there. The Russians have set up the facility in 1812 and settled north of San Francisco in Bodega Bay and Fort Ross , from regular to 1841, ran ships with supplies of meat and grain. Offices have been redeemed by John Sutter, and the Russians have returned to Alaska. It is possible that the dead buried there, for two reasons. The first is: hard clay soil gave on the graves of more than a mobile, unstable sand in other areas. Second: according to the old tradition of seamanship seamen were buried in a place that overlooked the sea. Pacific is indeed visible from Russian Hill, but the bay can be classified as a substitute for the sea ... Another guess: The name Russian Hill may also refer to the history of Russian sailor who, after much zakrapianej party one night at Yerba Buena (San Francisco) in 1847 fell into a well and drowned. His companions carried the body on the west side of the hill, and the final resting place of the seaman has been called since then "Russian Hill" .
burials took place in this region until 1850. During the colonization of the hill the body exhumed and moved to the Yerba Buena Cemetery (now the Civic Center), or simply removed signs and gravestones were built in this place home (and to think that some of the most expensive real estate in San Francisco are at the cemetery - on a good Horror:). New buildings in the Russian Hill quickly became a favorite location for local bohemians, all types of artists and writers who found inspiration on a hill in an isolated part of town with wonderful views.
The attractiveness of low rents also determined. Russian Hill was not a desirable place to live until the early twentieth century when it was created to improve access cobbled streets of this hill. Today, access is no longer a problem, Russian Hill is one of the most beautiful and most expensive residential districts. It is also one of the most architecturally diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco.
1) Horn of Taylor and Vallejo streets - Ina Coolbrith Park. 
This park on a hill with breathtaking views of downtown is devoted to the poet Ina Coolbrith. At the entrance is a bronze plaque, embedded in a mound of stones, which contains basic information about the artist. Unfortunately, there are bugs in it. Coolbrith came to the area in 1851, not 1852. It was the first poet laureate of California, not the United States, died in Berkeley, not Oakland. Russian Hill was her favorite place for life. From 1902 to 1906 lived at 1604 Taylor Street near the northeast corner of Taylor and Broadway. After a fire in 1906 and lived briefly in 1915 Macondray Lane (then called Lincoln Street), and then moved to 1067 Broadway.
more about the park read here.
2) 1656 Taylor Street - House of the Flag (1864). 
building known as the "House of the Flag" is famous in San Francisco that survived the great fire of 1906. When the fire began to approach the building, the owner hung up on the roof of an American flag.
soldiers from the nearby 20th Infantry Regiment, seeing his act of resistance against the element, they moved with the help of bringing home the bathtub filled with water, wet sand from the construction and even bottled water! Thanks to this place is saved from destructive fire.
base of the building (probably Victorian) dates back to 1894. Nearly a decade later, added a new facade and remodeling the "shingle-style" with the external cladding of ceramic tiles and shingles. In 1980 was built at the rear of the building a new room and renamed the entire complex structure of condominium. 3) 1001 Vallejo Street - Hanford-Verdier Mansion (1906). 
Built with high momentum in the Tudor-style mansion was completed, when in 1906 he was a great earthquake and fire. Fortunately, the building survived unscathed, the fire was stopped on the other side of the street. This was one of the first plastered house in San Francisco, works in an architect Houghton Sawyer. The house was built by Robert G. Hanford, which had extensive interests in coal mines in the Mother Lode, and previously was the owner of several S-Bahn lines in San Francisco before they sold them for a huge sum. Hanford built a mansion for his new fiancee, Gabriella Cavalsky, a woman whom he met while playing golf at Del Monte's fields. House had a huge ballroom with a balcony from which she sang frequently chosen one, Robert. The marriage did not last long, Hanford House sold Felix Verdier, grandson of the founder department stores City of Paris. During the Second World War the house was used by the military as a club officer. Later has been divided into apartments. Currently, after the recent reconstructions, two separate houses.
4) 1637 Taylor Street - "House of Many Corners" (1854). 
poorly visible through the trees and bushes, "House of Many Katy / Corners" was one of the earliest buildings on the hill formed. Each wall has a window, which was likely to provide the maximum amount of light in the interior. In 1890 the house underwent a dramatic conversion. Everard became the property of Morgan - swindler and blackmailer. When everything came to light, he had to divorce his wife. Under the settlement house sawed in half. The southern part remained intact and passed into the hands of his wife. Morgan took the North and moved them to an unknown location (moving houses was quite common - buildings were mostly wooden). An empty plot of land the house was sold to Robert Hanfordowi neighbor, who used it to expand its huge mansion. In 1911 "House of Many Corners" has been divided into apartments for rent. In the year 1950-the facade building at 1637 Taylor Street has been seriously overhauled, but "many corners" are still visible.
5) 1601 Taylor Street (1853-1910 onwards). 
first people who began to put houses on top of Russian Hill were the contractors. Had the materials and skills needed to build homes so difficult to reach them. One of them was Charles Homer, who in 1843 built a gigantic hospital, U.S. Marine Hospital on Rincon Hill in San Francisco. In the same year he put his own three-storey Victorian house on a hill Russian Hill.Homer purchased six parcels of 40m ² limited Taylor streets, Broadway, Jones and Vallejo for a total sum of $ 5,000. Within a few months, sold the remaining property for $ 4,000 apiece!. Profit was a dispute, but not as large as the former owner of William Clark, who over four years before he bought the same property for ... $ 225!
In 1866 Taylor Street, between Broadway and Vallejo has been reduced to make it more accessible. This treatment is threatened nearby buildings, have been exposed to subsidence. The only way out was to shield the space rocks and concrete, creating a kind of wall. Most of the walls from corner to about half the height of Taylor Street is the original. In addition, other ramp, which was once the basis of the stairs leading to the 1601 Taylor Street. Charles Homer House was demolished in 1910. Corner plot was used as a garden for two other houses on the street Taylor 1629 and 1020 Broadway.
6) 1020 Broadway (1909).
There is a house called Sara Bard Field, the famous poet-feminists, who lived here in the twenties of the twentieth century. Shingled building is barely visible on the front of the growing trees and shrubs. It's hard to imagine today, but between the house and landscaped grounds adjacent 1032 Broadway Street once ran one of the city streets. Originally named Charles Street, which was later renamed the Sweet Street. This was apparently "street" in name only, pictures show her as a trail stretching the hill between two houses. Sweet Street is likely to disappear in 1894, when massive concrete retaining wall on Broadway Street blocked access.
7) 1032 Broadway - Atkinson House (1853). 
is one of the parcels that sold for Charles Homer sum of $ 4,000. Was bought by Joseph H. Atkinson, przesiebiorcę building and the owner of the Lone Mountain Cemetery, which was located on the western edge of town (now the Presidio Avenue). In 1853, Atkinson built a house at this point in the Italianate style. Today it is the oldest house on Russian Hill. Estate retained their atmosphere and style from 1853. Several interior renovations in 1893 and the beginning of the twentieth century plastered corners. Recent changes include installation of large windows viewing in 1970 and put the two garages under the house in 2000.
8) 1067 Broadway - The house where she lived Coolbrith Ina (1909-1919 onwards). 
This is the last house on Russian Hill, where she lived Coolbrith Ina (formerly 1604 Taylor Street and 15 Macondray Lane). This two-story house was purchased with funds raised in the Fairmont Hotel, launched a collection of local writer Gertrude Atherton. Wish Coolbrith was that the house looked like a neighboring building at 1073 Broadway Street. The future Nobel literary prize occupied a higher floor and the other rented. Ina lived here since 1909 until to 1919 . From 1922 until his death in 1928 she lived with her niece, Berkeley .
9) 40 Florence Street (1854). 
One-level house built in 1854 by David M. Morrison lived to see many major modifications over the years. In 1870 the building was raised to add a floor. Originally a porch on the first floor became the balcony on the second floor (in the U.S. has no idea on the ground floor - is only the first floor). In 1889, Horatio P. Livermore, whose family was in possession of a large part of Russian Hill, bought the property at this point as the investment. The building stood empty until 1891, when he introduced the architect Willis Polk. In exchange for free accommodation, Polk agreed to remodel the interior of the first floor. In 1897, Horatio Livermore, who was the owner of the Sacramento Business Gas and Electric and Railway Company, which he inherited from his father, he moved with his family on the street 40 Florence (street was already a different name in 1023 Vallejo Street). In the next few years Livemore started strongly interfere in the external appearance of the house, virtually obliterating all traces of the external appearance of dwelling Morrison. In 1988, the architect of post-modernist Robert Stern has transformed the whole structure, giving it a look that we see today. 10) 35, 37, 39 Florence Street (1912-1916 onwards) - the area where there was a cemetery of Russian seamen (1840). 
group of buildings resembling a English-style brick mansion Adobe (Pueblo Revival-style) was designed in 1910 for his son Horatio Livermorea, Norman by architect Charles F. Whittlesey, who lives in the capital of New Mexico, who was greatly influenced by the local architecture. This place is limited to the streets of Florence, Vallejo, Jones, and Broadway was the burial place of Russian sailors. Bodies of the dead may still be under the ground ... (Here I am reminded of a famous horror film of 1982 "Spirit" called Poltergeist). 11) Horn Street Florence and Vallejo - in this place stood the house Geletta Burgess (1894-1897 onwards). 
current address is 1071 Vallejo Street, but before 1906 it was 1031 Vallejo, In 1860 he was a regular square półtorapiętrowy house, called by the owner of the Shell Orzech - "Peanut Shell". He belonged to the poet Geletta Burgess from 1894 to 1897. "Peanut Shell" long time no longer exists, but the house on Atkinson Street 1032 Broadway and a few other known structures still remaining.
12) 1015-1019 Vallejo Street - Willis Polk House (1892). 
In 1892, architect Willis Polk (1867-1924), joined the elite living in Russian Hill with his parents, brother and sister, who moved to San Francisco from Kansas City. His mother, Endi, bought a plot on top of Vallejo street not far from the land that she purchased the Dora Williams, widow of Virgilu Williams, jedenym of the founders of Bohemian Club. Dora Polk persuaded to build a house with a roof that will cover both homes - duplex, separated by a common wall. The building still stands today, almost unchanged, is the most distinguishing a house on Russian Hill.
Rustic house, made of unpainted wood Redwood has been described as a modern variant of the European "private" from the Middle Ages. The most distinctive feature is its curved gothic window in the attic. House looks at a seemingly small, but the back side of Polk Street drops down the slope on the height of six floors, offering stunning views of downtown San Francisco. 13) 1034 and 1036 Vallejo Street - Marshall Houses (1889). 
These two covered with shingles Building the fence are the remnants of three nearly identical structures that were built during the period 1888-1889. Known as the Marshall Houses (Houses Marshall) from their original owner, designed by Joseph Worcester, pastor of the Swedenborgian Church, Pacific Heights, while amateur architekta.Zamiłowanie to religion and architecture may seem absurd at first glance, but in the case of Worcester proved to be advantageous because the doctrine of the church assumed a connection between the temporal and spiritual world. Its architecture was associated with the belief that buildings should receive the in the spring, as far as possible similar to the surrounding nature. To this end, developed houses with shingles made from unprocessed Redwood trees.
14) 1,3, 5, 7, Russian Hill Place (1916). 
plastered four villas in Mediterranean style with English tiles covering the roof have been designed by Willis Polka and built between 1915-1916 on land belonging to Norman Livermorea, son of Horatio Livermorea. Their front entrance to the Russian Hill Place, the impression of a small building, but the rear, Jones from the street, they have three floors. The elegant and sophisticated look of these houses embodies life in San Francisco at its best. Paved street, one of the few remaining, Livermore was privately owned until 1926, when he gave it to the city. 15) The Jones / ramp Vallejo (1914). 
From this vantage point of entry to the top of Russian Hill, a magnificent view of the plastered houses in pastel colors, covered with English tile, resembling a small town in Italy. Not this is the case, the architecture was inspired by the journey of Horatio P. Livermore and his family to Italy in the period 1908-1909, the Horatio and his son, Norman began buying plots of land at Jones Street and then turned to Polka to design the front-end on top hill. Ramp was completed in 1914 and descended simple wooden stairs that were previously the only route to this part of the summit. 16) 945 and 947 Green Street (late 1920s). 
like the notorious fence placed by Charles Crocker around a neighbor's house, these two buildings have a similar story of revenge in the background. The building at 947 West Green Street was the first. But the tall tower blocked the view from the street neighbor, 1000 Vallejo. In the rematch of the property owner built a larger building at 945 Green Street next to the neighbor. The building was not only higher but has been configured so that the L-shaped building at 947 Green Street has been deprived of the views. Both buildings have only one apartment on each floor and were originally intended for rent. In 1970 he became a private property: 945 Green is a housing cooperative, and 947 are kondominum.
17) 1033 Green Street (1868). 
Known as the Bayley House (House Bayley) in memory of the owner, photographer William Bayley, who built this house. The building originally stood on a street near Taylor Jackson on Nob Hill. Bayley sold it in 1883 years Oliver Nordwellowi wealthy tailor. 18) 1039-1043 Green Street (1885). 
This three-storey Victorian house with a remarkable staircase leading to second floor, is dated to 1885 years. Beautiful building probably stood on Van Ness Avenue and was moved here in 1906 after an earthquake. The building was designed by the brothers Newsom, whose signature appears on the Carson mansion in Eureka. By the end it is not known why a stairway leading to the second floor outside the building. Probably the building originally had two storeys and the building was raised to put on the bottom of an additional floor.
19) 1045 Green Street (around 1867). 
small cottage with a dome resembling a school with no windows, was built in the style Italiante around the year 1867. Son of one of the owners added a small dome and added dark, wooden shingles in 1910, probably in order to adapt to the prevailing fashion then. 20) 1055 Green Street (1866.1916 respectively). 
Located a house here is one of the few that changed so drastically in appearance, since it was built in 1866. This was originally a plain wooden house covered paneling made from partially overlapping boards in the Italianate style with a small porch on the front. In 1916, architect Julia Morgan, completely rebuilt the front of the house and removed the upper floors. 21) 1067 Green Street - Feusier Octagon House (ca. 1857). 
This octagonal building is one of the most unusual in San Francisco. Octagonal houses enjoyed a short-lived mid-nineteenth century fashion, because they had to provide more healthy living conditions of their inhabitants. External walls with windows are designed to provide more sunlight. At one time there were about a half dozen octagonal houses in San Francisco. Currently, only stand Feusier House and the Octagon House on Union Street and Gough. Feusier House got its name after Feusierze Louisiane, French immigrant who came to San Francisco in early 1850, but has spent most of 1850 and 1860 in Nevada, where he reportedly was friends with Mark Twain. Feusier bought this house in 1875. House Feusierów remained in the family until 1954.
22) 1050 Green Street (1913).
light touch of Paris in San Francisco. This elegant five-storey building was removed from the street, and very well manicured green lawn reflects the classical school, the Ecole des Beaux Arts rezprezentowaną by the architect Lewis Hobart. The building is now a condominium with one apartment on each floor.
23) 1088 Green Street (1907).
Remiza in the style known as' Tudor Revival Swiss Chalet "was built in 1907 and opened in June 1908. Firefighters lived upstairs and downstairs, there were three fire trucks racing. Hill Russian Hill was fairly well insulated from the rest of the city and less vulnerable to fires, which caused the fire station also functioned as a kind of community center where neighborhood children dokarmiały smarowały horses and oil leather helmets. Instead, firefighters helped with first aid and repaired damaged bikes. The community spirit continued until World War II, when people brought food and gathered in the darkness of the city. In 1954, the depot was closed and the building was redundant. Five years later, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph K. Davies bought it at auction for $ 17,300. They used the building as a meeting place for various local organizations and charity events. In 1978, Ms. Davies gave fire station for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 1997, the trust sold the building, the Society of St. Andrews, an organization that promotes Scottish culture and art in Northern California.
As every year in San Francisco held a parade on city streets. Market Street by the crowd of people marched in uniforms with a large admixture of green. This year, despite the great weather the whole event was ... sad (at times reminded me of a funeral:). Somehow turnout was extremely low in comparison with previous years. All this has passed unnoticed and Irish pubs are not bursting at the seams ... Only at the Civic Center Plaza kłębił a large crowd, may people prefer to tour the city in such a sunny day? 
