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Quiz about San Francisco History
Quiz about San Francisco History

San Francisco History Trivia Quiz


Here are some familiar and not-so-familiar stories and facts about San Francisco. Might be more challenging if you're not a local. Have fun!

A multiple-choice quiz by peche. Estimated time: 8 mins.
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Author
peche
Time
8 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
13,006
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
1961
Awards
Top 10% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 74 (10/20), Sharky2 (7/20), Cougar2024 (7/20).
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Question 1 of 20
1. The San Francisco metro area has a transportation system called 'BART.' What does BART stand for? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. On which of these dates did the great San Francisco earthquake and fire (which struck at 5.12am and registered approximately 7.8 on the Richter scale) occur? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. This brick-paved road in San Francisco has been called 'the crookedest street in the world.'

Answer: (______ street)
Question 4 of 20
4. This bridge took 3 years, 4 months, and 3 days to build; it opened on November 12, 1936, one of its piers is taller than Egyptian pyramids and has more concrete than the Empire State Building! Which is it? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Between 1910 and 1940, roughly 175,000 Chinese immigrants were interrogated, humiliated, and in many cases deported from this 'immigration' site in San Francisco Bay.

Answer: (______ Island)
Question 6 of 20
6. In which year did the the Giants play their first game in San Francisco? Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. What was the first stadium the San Francisco Giants played in? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. For which of these is the weather in San Francisco best known, if not notorious? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. Which one of these is NOT a tourist destination in San Francisco? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. This chocolate manufacturer was established in San Francisco in 1852, and has stores in Las Vegas, Honolulu, Vancouver, and other locations. It is the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the United States. Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. What fort at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1853 to 1861, was occupied throughout the Civil War, and was manned by about 100 soldiers in World War II to help protect against possible submarine attack? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. San Francisco is famous for which of these kinds of bread? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. What site in San Francisco Bay housed prisoners from the Civil War era to 1963, including Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the famous "Birdman"?

Answer: (______ Island)
Question 14 of 20
14. In 2000, the lawyer handling this baseball player's estate ruffled some local feathers by saying that San Francisco's decision to rename a city playground after the player was not a sufficiently "worthy" honor. Who was the player? Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. This man came to San Francisco in 1849 and sold supplies to gold miners; he later lost his fortune. In 1859 he proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States. He started wearing a military uniform, gave citizens "royal titles", and issued his own imperial bonds. Who was this colorful San Franciscan? Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. The 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition was held at which of these locations in the San Francisco area? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. This San Francisco amusement park opened in 1914 near Ocean Beach. It had rides, a fun house, and Laughin' Sal, a cackling mechanical figure that has scared a lot of kids. It sold "It's-It" ice cream sandwiches, and was torn down in 1972. Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. What do the films "The Frisco Kid", "The Rock", "Time after Time" and "Vertigo" have in common? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. I take about 18 months to build and cost roughly $275,000 each ...
I started service in 1873, and I underwent a very thorough restoration that was finished in 1997 ... I together with and the others like me carry more than 10 million passengers annually, as San Francisco's 'moving landmark.' What am I?

Answer: (two words, no caps)
Question 20 of 20
20. Which of these singers grew up in San Francisco? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The San Francisco metro area has a transportation system called 'BART.' What does BART stand for?

Answer: Bay Area Rapid Transit

The BART electric train system started operating in 1972. It now has more than 100 miles of track, and has stations from SF to the East Bay and peninsula. The extension to SFO airport opened in 2003.
2. On which of these dates did the great San Francisco earthquake and fire (which struck at 5.12am and registered approximately 7.8 on the Richter scale) occur?

Answer: April 18, 1906

For many, many decades afterwards survivors of the 1906 earthquake gathered every year at Lotta's Fountain in San Francisco at 5.12am.
3. This brick-paved road in San Francisco has been called 'the crookedest street in the world.'

Answer: Lombard Street

You can still drive down Lombard street today--but go slowly!
4. This bridge took 3 years, 4 months, and 3 days to build; it opened on November 12, 1936, one of its piers is taller than Egyptian pyramids and has more concrete than the Empire State Building! Which is it?

Answer: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge opened on May 27, 1937, the original Carquinez Bridge opened May 21, 1927, the Carquinez Bridge on November 25, 1958, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge opened on September 1, 1956. In 2003, a brand new Carquinez Bridge opened; it is called the Al Zampa Bridge.
5. Between 1910 and 1940, roughly 175,000 Chinese immigrants were interrogated, humiliated, and in many cases deported from this 'immigration' site in San Francisco Bay.

Answer: Angel

Angel Island offers guided tours, where, on the old housing, you can still see some of the immigrants' inscriptions written in Chinese.
6. In which year did the the Giants play their first game in San Francisco?

Answer: 1958

The Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles the same year.
7. What was the first stadium the San Francisco Giants played in?

Answer: Seals Stadium

Seals Stadium, once the home of the San Francisco Seals and San Francisco Missions of the Pacific Coast League, was the Giants' home when they moved to SF in 1958. It was demolished after the 1959 season. The Giants moved to Candlestick Park in 1960, and started play at new Pacific Bell Park in 2000. (Kezar was once home to the SF 49ers of football.)
8. For which of these is the weather in San Francisco best known, if not notorious?

Answer: fog

For example, in the summer of 2000, the city had a record 103 degree day in June; 2 days later, there was a beautiful blanket of fog over the city in the early morning.
9. Which one of these is NOT a tourist destination in San Francisco?

Answer: John Muir National Historic Site

The John Muir National Historic Site is in Martinez, CA, in Contra Costa County. Martinez is also the birthplace of baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, who grew up in San Francisco.
10. This chocolate manufacturer was established in San Francisco in 1852, and has stores in Las Vegas, Honolulu, Vancouver, and other locations. It is the oldest continuously operating chocolate manufacturer in the United States.

Answer: Ghirardelli

At the flagship site in San Francisco, you can enjoy a sundae or float from the soda fountain, and even watch part of the chocolate-making process. (Colombo is a baking corporation, Hershey chocolate is based in Pennsylvania, and See's is a candy corporation founded in 1921 and known for its black and white stores.)
11. What fort at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from 1853 to 1861, was occupied throughout the Civil War, and was manned by about 100 soldiers in World War II to help protect against possible submarine attack?

Answer: Fort Point

Troops were withdrawn from Fort Point in 1886. It was used as a base for building the Golden Gate Bridge from 1933-1937, and is now a national historic site. (Fort Mason is also in San Francisco, but near Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Smith is in Arkansas, and Fort Ross, which is on the northern CA coast, was settled by Russians from 1812-1841.)
12. San Francisco is famous for which of these kinds of bread?

Answer: sourdough bread

Some famous local sourdough breadmakers are Colombo, Toscana, and Parisian. In San Francisco, clam chowder is often served in a sourdough bowl.
13. What site in San Francisco Bay housed prisoners from the Civil War era to 1963, including Al Capone, "Machine Gun" Kelly, and the famous "Birdman"?

Answer: Alcatraz

After the great earthquake and fire of 1906, prisoners from burned-out SF jails were transferred to Alcatraz. It's one of the most popular tourist destinations in San Francisco.
14. In 2000, the lawyer handling this baseball player's estate ruffled some local feathers by saying that San Francisco's decision to rename a city playground after the player was not a sufficiently "worthy" honor. Who was the player?

Answer: Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio was born in nearby Martinez, CA, and played baseball on that same North Beach neighborhood playground as a youngster.
15. This man came to San Francisco in 1849 and sold supplies to gold miners; he later lost his fortune. In 1859 he proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States. He started wearing a military uniform, gave citizens "royal titles", and issued his own imperial bonds. Who was this colorful San Franciscan?

Answer: Emperor Norton

Joshua Abraham Norton was born in London. As "Emperor," San Francisco restaurants allowed him to dine free. In 1869, he proposed a bridge be built across San Francisco Bay. A man working in SF for a newspaper at this time later revealed that he had based a character, "King," on Emperor Norton.

This newspaperman and future author was named Samuel Clemens and the book is "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
16. The 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition was held at which of these locations in the San Francisco area?

Answer: Treasure Island

Treasure Island was later used as a U.S. Navy base. It closed as a military base in the the 1990s and was developed for housing and business.
17. This San Francisco amusement park opened in 1914 near Ocean Beach. It had rides, a fun house, and Laughin' Sal, a cackling mechanical figure that has scared a lot of kids. It sold "It's-It" ice cream sandwiches, and was torn down in 1972.

Answer: Playland-at-the-Beach

"It's-It" ice cream sandwiches continue to be available. They're chocolate-covered sandwiches held together with cookies. They come with chocolate, vanilla, mint, and capuccino ice cream. Yum!
18. What do the films "The Frisco Kid", "The Rock", "Time after Time" and "Vertigo" have in common?

Answer: they are all set at least partly in San Francisco

"The Frisco Kid" is set in a time period long before the Golden Gate Bridge was built; Sean Connery of "The Rock" is not from San Francisco; "Time after Time" and "Vertigo" have no scenes on Alcatraz.
19. I take about 18 months to build and cost roughly $275,000 each ... I started service in 1873, and I underwent a very thorough restoration that was finished in 1997 ... I together with and the others like me carry more than 10 million passengers annually, as San Francisco's 'moving landmark.' What am I?

Answer: cable car

The cable cars go about 9 miles (15km) an hour. Ride hanging on the outside if you're able to.
20. Which of these singers grew up in San Francisco?

Answer: Johnny Mathis

Jeanette MacDonald who created the 1936 song "San Francisco" ("San Francisco, open your golden gate") is famous, but was born in Philadelphia, PA; Tony Bennett's signature song is "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," but he is a native of Astoria, NY; Mel Torme was born in Chicago, IL, although his nickname, "The Velvet Fog", would be appropriate for a native of San Francisco.
Source: Author peche

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