Mid way through the 1800’s the California Gold Rush helped put San Francisco on the map. News of streets paved in gold quickly spread back east and everyone looking for a piece of the American dream started migrating west. Starting in 1848 the Gold Rush led to a large boom in population, including considerable immigration. Between January 1848 and December 1849, the population of San Francisco increased from 1,000 to 25,000. The rapid growth continued through the 1850s and under the influence of the 1859 Comstock Lode silver discovery. This rapid growth complicated city planning efforts, leaving a legacy of narrow streets that continues to cause traffic problems today. San Francisco became America’s largest city west of the Mississippi River.
As prosperity increased from the gold rush …….so did the production of an importation of such things as iron beds. Although at that time iron beds were only owned by the more affluent. Whereas back east , everyone had one. Transportation of a heavy iron bed from the east to the west coast was a long process and a costly one. Transportation from the east to the west could sometimes cost as much or more than the cost of the item itself. Only the fancier beds made their way west in the early years. As time went on and the population doubled for a number of years in a row, it became apparent San Francisco was a city that had all the making of one of the busiest cities in the country and a population that would create that type of city would want nothing less than what was available on a regular basis to people living east of the Mississippi.
Soon trade routes out of San Francisco bay would not only leave with vessels packed to the gills……..but also returning in an equally full state. Even today antique iron beds from numerous countries show up on the market. As was the case back then, it still maintains today that the vast population of San Franciscans who have beds go for the more elaborate fancy Victorian models.
My San Francisco customers are also my best informed clientele with a better understanding of antiques and specifically antique iron beds. They tend to like to learn more about what they’re buying than most of my other metropolitan cities.
So if you’re looking for iron beds in San Francisco ……..look no farther than the internet at the site you’re currently on. Check the tabs at the top to request current inventory photo’s or one of the many educational tabs to learn more about the background and history of what we do.
I hope you’ve found this blog informative . I invite you to revisit my website
to answer any and all questions you might have about antique iron beds.
I also invite you to take a look at our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
