Lost Worlds of the San Francisco Bay Area Hardcover – March 1, 2017

WINNER of the 2018 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK AWARD FOR BEST GENERAL NON-FICTION, July 1, 2018 (update)This is wonderful book. It's 200 pages have some of the most beautiful writing I have ever read and more than 200 old photos, drawings, paintings, letters,and maps of the eighteen San Francisco Bay Area landmarks whose founding, growth, and fading, all happened in the era following European arrival and dominance of the area. The sites of these landmarks still abide and although most traces of their histories are lost to view this book brings them back to life with its many old photographs and words that capture those lost times.I recommend this book to all. I first visited San Francisco about 50 years ago - years after the stories told in this book were already history. But I have now lived in the area for more than 20 years and been privileged to visit much of the land on which these things happened. This book really brings them back to life for me.

My husband, who rarely reads, has been making his way through this amazing book. It has truly opened our eyes to some unbelievable parts of the history of the Bay Area.

The content of the book is great, but it arrived with damage to the outer cover/spine. Also, front cover is uneven. Purchased as a gift and I am sure they will still like it, but wish that as a new item it was in pristine condition.

Great book! History of SF.

Lost worlds told about in poetic terms, not sacrificing details of historical interest. Magical and surreal non-fiction!

I bought this book at Gallery Books in Mendocino where it was prominently displayed to show its beautiful cover. I guessed the book was by Heyday Books as all of their productions have a strong period feel and would love to tell you I browsed this book for a l-o-n-g time before plunking down my money but, not so. I got as far as the segment on Neptune Beach before I bought the book. In some ways, this reminds me of San Francisco's Jeweled City (another Heyday Book) in that takes you to places you might only know about had you an obsession with old newspapers or the oral histories of long gone relatives. Having lived in the Bay Area for decades and having never heard of most of these destinations, I'd describe this book as journey as much as story, full of lost treasures and unknown wonderings interspersed with anecdotes to delight and inspire. So happy with my purchase.