Thanks, Linda. Remarkable footage.

Something you probably thought was impossible:  Taking a 1906 streetcar ride in San Francisco! Filmed just four days before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire that destroyed so much of SF, this footage had been shipped by train to New York for processing.

Here's a terrific opportunity to enjoy some time-travel. The film was taken from a streetcar traveling down Market Street.  You can clearly see the clock tower at the Embarcadero Wharf/still standing. The quality and detail is great, so be sure to view it full screen.

The footage was originally thought to be from 1905 until David Kiehn with the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum determined exactly when it was shot.  New York trade papers announced the film, the streets were wet from recent heavy rainfall and shadows indicated time of year.  Weather conditions exist on historical records.  Additionally, the cars were registered so he could determine who the owners were and when the plates were issued.

According to Wikipedia, traffic signal lights were not invented until 1912 and not common for some years later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=NINOxRxze9k