Abstract
This paper examines the history of San Francisco as presented in "Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin" by Gran Brechin. It reviews how Brechin discusses the impact the California Gold Rush, San Francisco's elite and powerful, the control of water sources and the shipbuilding industry had on the development of San Francisco.

From the Paper
"Brechin's book, "Imperial San Francisco" is a compelling history of the "City by the Bay," which pulls no punches in San Francisco's rise from sleepy bayside community to one of the most powerful cities in the world. From the preface, where he compares the imperial cities of old and their contados, areas surrounding the city that the city dominates and contribute to the city's well-being and growth, to the last chapter, where he illustrates modern power development in the Bay Area through her educational facilities, Brechin paints a complete and convincing picture of San Francisco's roots and development."

Tags:city, bay, bayside, community, william, randolph, hearst, john, hays, hammond, william, ralston