Henry Firks. San Francisco, 1849. 1880.

Henry Firks (fl. 1846–1854)
San Francisco, 1849
Published by W. H. Jones, 1849 [1880]
Hand-colored lithograph
Sheet size: 26” x 41 1/4” framed

This striking lithograph by Henry Firks offers a vivid depiction of San Francisco during the height of the California Gold Rush, capturing the city's rapid transformation from a modest settlement to a bustling port. Originally published in 1849 and later reissued in 1880, it showcases the ambitious architecture, busy harbor, and surrounding natural landscape of the era. A masterful combination of artistry and historical documentation, this piece is an exceptional example for collectors of Gold Rush-era Americana.

At the time this view was first conceived, San Francisco was a modest coastal settlement known as Yerba Buena, a small but strategically located port under Mexican rule. With the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848, the city rapidly transformed, its population swelling from just a few hundred to tens of thousands within months. By 1849, San Francisco had become the epicenter of the Gold Rush, its harbor jammed with abandoned ships as crews fled in search of riches. Hastily built structures and makeshift camps lined the waterfront, while merchants and entrepreneurs flocked to capitalize on the boom. The lithograph captures this frenetic period, documenting the rapid urbanization and economic upheaval that shaped San Francisco into the gateway to the American West.