Podcast
Monkey Block San Francisco's Golden History
Hosted by Girlina · EN
Retelling forgotten stories from San Francisco's golden past, 1776 - 1906, based on newspapers, books, and personal accounts, of the time. San Francisco enthusiasts, California gold rush fans, and garden variety history geeks can discover this boom and bust city, built on the discovery of gold. *I do my best to accurately reflect the facts, and sources, in my episodes.*
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S5 Ep1 January 1847 Yerba Buena
Mar 2900:18:06Tap to summarizeOver the past five years, I’ve shared fragments of the sometimes-comedic stories of 1847 Yerba Buena. But 1847 deserves more than scattered stories. It was a transformative year for the Pueblo de Yerba Buena, the District of San Francisco, Monterey and Alta California.I plan to retell the 1847 story in a multipart series. And while I’m sad to say goodbye to Yerba Buena, I’m excited to tell this next chapter, the year before the gold.monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep11 Five Year Anniversary, Girlina Interview - Announcement at the End
Feb 100:33:55Tap to summarizeArchitectural historian, Jonathon Lammers interviews me in this episode. Stay until the end to hear about a change coming to the podcast. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep10 Part 3 Larkin Arrives in California
Dec 700:32:05Tap to summarizeLarkin’s decision to move to Monterey, in Mexico’s California, was to work with his very successful half-brother, Bostonian John Rogers Cooper, who made his fortune in the sea otter trade that was transitioning to the hide and tallow trade. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 EP9 Part 2 Thomas Larkin Has Three Options
Sep 2100:19:29Tap to summarizeLarkin came to a critical juncture in life and had to make a drastic change. He has three options to choose from and he knows in which order he wants the options to work out in. Did his first choice come to fruition? His second choice? Maybe his third? Listen and find out. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep8 Part 1 Thomas Larkin, Early Boston Years
Aug 300:27:52Tap to summarizeThomas Larkin is one of my favorite people from the early California story, and I’ve mentioned him in past episodes. Thomas Larkin inevitably comes up when discussing Yerba Buena’s history, which is also San Francisco's and California’s history. I’m excited to share this deep look into Thomas Oliver Larkin’s life, which will take more than one episode to tell. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep8 Marnie's Story of Henry Fortmann
May 2500:41:41Tap to summarizeThis episode is a memorial to a Civil War Veteran and locally famous (in his time), San Francisco/Bay Area resident, Henry Fortmann. This story is special to me because it honors my listener's great-great-great grandfather, Henry Fortmann, and his connection to San Francisco's disinterment of the dead.monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep7 Part 2 Interview with author Terry Hamburg "Land of the Dead, How the West Changed Death in America"
Mar 23, 202500:41:03Tap to summarizeThis is Part 2 of my interview with author Terry Hamburg, author of "Land of the Dead, How the West Changed Death in America". In this episode Terry tells us how the four main cemeteries dealt with evicting the dead by the 1940s. I assure you, it's a fascinating story and it will give you historical reference for many parts of San Francisco as well as Colma's necropolis history. Purchase the book, here:https://www.amazon.com/Land-Dead-Changed-Death-America/dp/1633889866/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9JDS5OLKVB7V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qU3vNv3F7ybQif2LJRd7hw.5Y3xrS6Kal6ldEU8bf_GtWAXWQiI3ngY7NSktN58ApA&dib_tag=se&keywords=terry+hamburg+land+of+the+dead&qid=1742942103&sprefix=terry+ham%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep6 Part 1 Interview with author Terry Hamburg "Land of the Dead, How the West Changed Death in America"
Feb 18, 202500:39:12Tap to summarizeThis episode is an interview with author Terry Hamburg, who wrote a very interesting book on all things dying, death, and burial in San Francisco history. We cover the earliest history of Colma and specifically discuss one cemetery, Cypress Lawn. This subject matter might not be for everyone, but please know I approach the discussion about the history of death and burials in San Francisco with respect and genuine curiosity. I think you’ll find it fascinating. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep5 Was Montgomery's Landing "near this spot"?
Dec 16, 202400:36:01Tap to summarizeThe history I’ve read regarding July 9th, 1846, states that the USS Portsmouth pulled up to the shoreline at Montgomery and Clay Street, marines disembarked from the ship and onto land, then marched up Clay Street to raise the American flag in Portsmouth Square. It’s stated as if the soldiers stepped off the ship and directly onto land. But, is that accurate? monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
Transcribe →S4 Ep4 Drinking in Yerba Buena 1847 - Seven Rules and Regulations at Public Houses
Oct 27, 202400:39:00Tap to summarizeHave you ever felt like some stories should feel more connected than they do in your brain but instead they feel like untethered facts that are somehow connected? This episode is about just that. I want to understand how my past few episodes fit together, since they feel stand alone. I revisit some of my recently covered sources which might point me in the right direction. monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly)monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources)buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast)twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me)facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me)
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