December 28 marks the birthday of our city's publicly-owned mass transit provider. Way back in 1912, the San Francisco Municipal Railway took its first baby steps (or would that be baby rolls?) down Geary Street.
Starting with just one line (the A Geary-Park) which ran on Geary from Kearny to 10th Avenue, Muni quickly expanded in the short years leading up to the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition, adding four lines in 1914 alone. The PPIE nearly doubled Muni ridership in just one year, allowing Muni to pay for the new lines and continue expansion.
By the time this photo was taken for Muni's 50th birthday in 1962, the system was looking more like our present-day layout and the Municipal Railway was the sole provider of mass public transportation in the city.
Happy Birthday Muni Floral Plaque for Muni's 50th Anniversary | October 22, 1962
Muni's 'Golden' Anniversary was a special one, with a birthday banquet, special gold painted motor coach and this unique plant arrangement outside the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. This spectacular display is made up largely of succulent plants and moss, very appropriate choices for foggy San Francisco.
Happy birthday, Muni. Here's to another 100+ years!
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