These links provide vast amounts of information concerning the development of San Francisco and the West. They include the entire texts of some difficult to find books, many photo collections, and a variety of essays, stories and memoirs. While there are many more historical societies than are listed below, this selection is limited to those that contain significant amounts of online histories or other resources relating to the early development of the State and the West.
The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft
Bancroft's 39-volume history of the West is one of the greatest works of history ever compiled; it's all here.
The Annals of San Francisco
This is the first history of San Francisco, published in 1855; it provides an account of the Spanish and Mexican days, and how the City grew from a Latin outpost into a Yankee metropolis.
California Archives for You
There's a plethora of information here, most importantly biographies of lesser- known regional figures.
The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco
This site contains many biographies of San Francisco notables, as well as essays and articles on key events. What distinguishes it most is its use of old memoirs to tell the stories, providing a wonderful sampling of San Francisco-oriented writing.
San Francisco Memories
A photo-heavy site, San Francisco Memories provides images of the City's big expositions of 1893 and 1915, the earthquake and several other topics of interest.
American Hurrah
This site contains many collections of interesting photos of San Francisco over the years, various municipal reports from the past, and some fun little stories about now-obscure events.
NoeHill.com
Photos of San Francisco landmark buildings distinguish this site; also a nice selection of pictures of fine Victorian houses.
Online Archive of California
The extensive collection of images--from photos to old ship handbills--make this site unique.
California Heritage Collection
This site contains many collections and series of photos, including views of Yosemite, migrant labor camps, the earthquake.
Library of Congress's San Francisco
Find early movies of old San Francisco here, from clips of Teddy Roosevelt visiting to an arrest in Chinatown.
San Francisco Public Library
There are photos of bar interiors, mayors and monuments at this location, and much more.
San Francisco Geneology
Find a large, random selection of ships' passenger lists, City directories and other records at this site.
Sacramento History Online
The history of Sacramento's role in California agriculture and transportation is explored here.
The California Gold Country
This site provides the most relevant links to other web resources telling the story of the Gold Rush.
Historic Highway 49
In addition to histories and photographs of the original Gold Rush towns, there is also current information on the locales for visitors.
PBS's The West
This PBS web site on their documentary series about Western expansion provides an excellent overview of the phenomenon from beginning to end.
The Territorial Enterprise
A site dedicated to the Virginia City newspaper that first published Mark Twain, it provides good background to the history of the Comstock Lode and its most memorable characters.
Nevada History
A comprehensive site on the history of Nevada, this one highlights all the main events and includes exhaustive timelines.
Virginia City
This site shows the city as it is today and tells the story of what it was in the past.