While most of America spent yesterday BBQ-ing, blowing stuff up and avoiding DUI checkpoints all in the name of freedom, our very own Market Street Railway silently celebrated its 150th anniversary. That's 84 years after we signed the Declaration of Independence for those of you who don't math.
The Market Street Railroad was the very first railway on the Pacific Coast. The steam-powered coach ran from Third and Market (pictured up above) to 16th and Valencia. By 1867 it was replaced by horse drawn cars, then by the Cables in 1883 and finally by the streetcars of 1906 which we now call the F-line.
Check out the Chronicle's brief history of the railway. It's worth noting that the photo above is the only known photo of the Market Street Railroad train.
(Photo: Market Street Railway)