SF: A City of Firsts

San Francisco has always been a city that leads — innovating, experimenting, and setting trends that ripple far beyond the Bay. From world-changing inventions to cultural milestones, here are just a few of the “firsts” that began right here.

Oldest Chinatown in North America (1848)

San Francisco’s Chinatown, established in 1848, is the oldest in North America and remains the largest Chinese enclave outside Asia — a cultural hub and gateway for generations of immigrants.

World’s First Cable Car System (1873)

Andrew Smith Hallidie’s first cable car climbed Clay Street in 1873, launching a transit system copied across the globe — and still rolling today as a National Historic Landmark.
Source: SFMTA

First City-Sponsored Farmers’ Market in the U.S. (1943)

San Francisco opened the country’s first municipally sponsored farmers’ market at Duboce and Market during WWII, connecting city residents with fresh produce long before “farm-to-table” was a trend.
Source: SF Chronicle

First Irish Coffee in America (1952)

The Buena Vista Café introduced Irish Coffee to the U.S. in 1952, recreating the warming drink travel writer Stanton Delaplane had discovered at Shannon Airport in Ireland.
Source: The Buena Vista

First Plastic Bag Ban in the U.S. (2007)

San Francisco became the first American city to outlaw petroleum-based plastic checkout bags in 2007, sparking a movement that spread to cities and states nationwide.