The Wasp — 1896 — page 678: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a historical article—not satire—documenting San Francisco's early settlement. The decorative header illustrates the city's transformation from a tent encampment (shown with Native Americans and covered wagons) to an established harbor town. The text describes Lieutenant Ayala's 1775 arrival, the Franciscan mission's founding in 1776, and the city's gradual development through the 1830s-1840s. It credits Jacob Leese with building the first house in 1836, and references early settlers like Captain Richardson and the Alcalde. The photograph at bottom shows San Francisco in 1849—depicting buildings, ships in the harbor, and hills—contrasting the primitive origins with modest urban development before the Gold Rush boom transformed it entirely. This is commemorative history, not satirical commentary.