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| Landmark #691 | San Francisco County | Visited: February 23, 2013 | Plaque? NO. 🙁 |
| What is it? | The marble sarcophagus of Thomas Starr King! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Apostle of liberty, humanitarian, Unitarian minister, who in the Civil War bound California to the Union and led her to excel all other states in support of the United States Sanitary Commission that preceded the American Red Cross. His statue, together with that of Father Junípero Serra, represents California in the National Capitol, and his name is borne by a Yosemite peak: “A man to match our mountains.”
OTHER TIDBITS: Most folks don’t realize how close California came to being a split state with all of the south going to the Confederacy! Before Reverend King started preaching, there was a Confederate flag flying over the Plaza de Los Angeles! Had it continued on that path, all of SoCal’s resources would have gone to the Confederate cause, and the Civil War would have gone very differently! From Union Square to the mines in the Sierras, Reverend King railed against rebelliousness and treachery, winning hearts for the Union cause across the state. He even pushed for the rights of African- and Chinese-Americans in a state that was pushing their rights into the ground! He also raised millions of dollars in support of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, precursor to the American Red Cross and for the gubernatorial campaign of Leland Stanford! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: First Unitarian Church Franklin between Starr King and Geary San Francisco, CA 94109 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~383mi (617km) — 6.4hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |
