By 1890, San Francisco’s population approached 300,000, making it the eighth-largest city in the United States at the time. Around 1901, San Francisco was a major city known for its flamboyant style, stately hotels, ostentatious mansions on Nob Hill, and a thriving arts scene. The first North American plague epidemic was the San Francisco plague of 1900–1904.
![Chinatown in SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-01.jpg)
Chinatown in SF, Cal. around 1900
![Mission Dolores, SF, Cal.](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-02.jpg)
Mission Dolores, SF, Cal.
![Playground in San Francisco around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-03.jpg)
Playground in San Francisco around 1900
![Steamer ferries in S.F Bay around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-04.jpg)
Steamer ferries in S.F Bay around 1900
![Sutro Baths, SF, Cal. about 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-05.jpg)
Sutro Baths, SF, Cal. about 1900
![Telegraph Hill with wharves, Embarcadero and Bay Ferry, SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-06.jpg)
Telegraph Hill with wharves, Embarcadero and Bay Ferry, SF, Cal. around 1900
![Chinatown in SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-07.jpg)
Chinatown in SF, Cal. around 1900
![The Cliff House, SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-08.jpg)
The Cliff House, SF, Cal. around 1900
![Union Square, San Francisco, Cal., ca. 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-09.jpg)
Union Square, San Francisco, Cal., ca. 1900
![University of California, ca. 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-10.jpg)
University of California, ca. 1900
![Ferry Bldg in SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-11.jpg)
Ferry Bldg in SF, Cal. around 1900
![Ferry Bldg in SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-12.jpg)
Ferry Bldg in SF, Cal. around 1900
![In the Golden Gate Park, SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-13.jpg)
In the Golden Gate Park, SF, Cal. around 1900
![Key Monument in Golden Gate Park, SF, Cal. around 1900](https://monovisions.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/vintage-san-francisco-before-the-quake-1900s-14.jpg)
Key Monument in Golden Gate Park, SF, Cal. around 1900