San Francisco, from California and Powell Streets 1864

Carleton E. Watkins, a renowned photographer known for his dramatic landscapes, captured the beauty of San Francisco in 1864. The image, titled "San Francisco, from California and Powell Streets," shows the bustling city from a high vantage point, with a panoramic view of the waterfront, ships, and surrounding hills. The sharp detail and clarity of the image showcase Watkins' mastery of the collodion process, which produced a high-resolution, high-contrast image. This historic photograph gives us a glimpse into the city's early development and the burgeoning maritime industry that was central to its growth.