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| Landmark #587 | San Francisco County | Visited: February 23, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque on a large, carved stone at Portsmouth Square! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This is the site of the first public school in California. It was opened on April 3, 1848 on the southwest corner of Portsmouth Square.
OTHER TIDBITS: Until this point, there had been only two American schools in California. The first was founded in December 1846 by Mrs. Olive M. Isbell in an old adobe near Mission Santa Clara. The second was a private school that opened in San Francisco later that year but closed soon after due to an irresponsible teacher. This particular school was created by the ayuntamiento of Yerba Buena in response to the closure of the last one. Though it was technically a public school, it received no government funds and was supported entirely by tuition fees. After opening in 1848, it only lasted a few months before teacher, Thomas Douglas, got wind of the gold discovery at Sutter’s Mill and disappeared into the hills! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Portsmouth Plaza Clay and Brenham Sts San Francisco, CA 94108 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~380mi (612km) — 6.4hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |