Gold Mountain, Big City: Ken Cathcart’s 1947 Illustrated Map of San Francisco’s Chinatown

Sumptuous book uses an old famous map (by idiosyncratic cartographer Ken Cathcart) as a portal to explore various picturesque and often enchanting aspects of culture, history, daily life in old San Francisco. Beautiful photographs and lively text augment the map, creating a broad piece not just of California history but of important Americana. This is one of the loveliest history-oriented "coffee table" books of the past ten years. It's a spellbinding journey -- and the book was obviously written and edited as a very dedicated labor of love. Highly recommended.

I've had this gorgeous book, Gold Mountain Big City, on my coffee table for a few months. I finally read it cover to cover in one day! This book is much more than a coffee table book. The author meticulously tied maps and photos with text into a fascinating study of Chinatown, North Beach and the surrounding areas during the mid 1800s to 1970s. The detailed text brought the historical maps to life. For example how an elderly next door neighbor delivered Ken Cathcart’s trove of papers, photos, maps to the author. The Cathcart maps meant for marking, color-coded specific sites for prostitutes, optium parlors, gambling casinos and slave trading. A 1939 map marked the location of the YMCA where it still stands with a playground across the street. Gold Mountain Big City is filled with facts such as the life expectancy of a young child, usually a girl, sold into slavery was only three years. The Sentinel building was built and owned by a corrupt politician who went to prison. The Kingston Trio owned the building during the 1960s as it fell into disrepair. Francis Ford Coppola purchased and renovated the building in the mid-seventies. There are mysteries mentioned in the text keep the reader engaged. What happened to Ken Cathcart after he abruptly stopped working from 1958 until his death in 1985? How did he, an outsider, gain the trust of the Six Company leaders? Why is the young shoeshine boy carrying a pistol? And there are many more. I read Gold Mountain Big City in a single afternoon because I couldn't put it down! That amount of time does not do this exquisite book justice. Each page identifies a familiar building or street corner and the events that occurred there. It is too much to absorb in an afternoon for it is packed with information. I’d suggest that after reading a portion, one visits the sites. I highly recommend this beautiful book to a history buff. But beyond that, this book truly is for anyone who loves San Francisco, particularly Chinatown and North Beach.

We purchased this book as SF locals, having moved here in early 1959, thus interested in a different viewpoint of Chinatown from the usual perspectives. It is a visual delight, and the narratives that coordinate with the sections of the map are both useful and informative, with an attention to detail that is extraordinary. We enjoyed it so much, we purchased it a couple more times as a gift for other friends who, in their 80's and 90's, grew up, worked and played in the area during the subject era. Everyone has been delighted with the personal viewpoint of a vanished living community. One problem we had with the shipping/packaging though. The subsequent books arrived on time, but the packaging was non-existent. Despite being marked as gift items, these beautiful coffee table books arrived with no plastic over-wrap to protect them from damage. Luckily, no damage, but the lack of the overwrap made for a less than stellar gifting experience. All the same, a wonderful book.

Everything is wonderful about this book; the (old) photos, the beautiful old artwork, and the very interesting written material.

If you have any interest at all in San Francisco, I think you would find this instantly fascinating. It's obviously put together with care and passion.

Jim Schein has put together a fantastic book of San Francisco Chinatown based on Ken Cathcart's 1947 Illustrated Map and photographs. As you page through the book, you will be brought back into a time when Chinatown was considered mysterious to outsiders not familiar with its inhabitants and families. I have enjoyed paging through the book - reading the stories, looking through the photographs and historic maps. Jim has helped recreate a lost period of time, landscape, activities and family life during1940's and 1950's Chinatown.

beautiful book another great experience

This is an unforgettable treasure trove of a book. The photographs of San Francisco in the 30s and 40s, particularly those of the city's Chinatown, are some of the most evocative I have seen. I love the big format of the book and the inclusion of maps. Cameron and Company, the publisher of this book, is putting out truly beautiful books related to Bay Area history. I love their motto of publishing books that have to be experienced as physical books. You can feel their devotion to the art of bookmaking on every page.

“Map” is Exactly like cover a book. Interesting information. Wonderful photography

Sumptuous book uses an old famous map (by idiosyncratic cartographer Ken Cathcart) as a portal to explore various picturesque and often enchanting aspects of culture, history, daily life in old San Francisco. Beautiful photographs and lively text augment the map, creating a broad piece not just of California history but of important Americana. This is one of the loveliest history-oriented "coffee table" books of the past ten years. It's a spellbinding journey -- and the book was obviously written and edited as a very dedicated labor of love. Highly recommended.

I've had this gorgeous book, Gold Mountain Big City, on my coffee table for a few months. I finally read it cover to cover in one day! This book is much more than a coffee table book. The author meticulously tied maps and photos with text into a fascinating study of Chinatown, North Beach and the surrounding areas during the mid 1800s to 1970s. The detailed text brought the historical maps to life. For example how an elderly next door neighbor delivered Ken Cathcart’s trove of papers, photos, maps to the author. The Cathcart maps meant for marking, color-coded specific sites for prostitutes, optium parlors, gambling casinos and slave trading. A 1939 map marked the location of the YMCA where it still stands with a playground across the street. Gold Mountain Big City is filled with facts such as the life expectancy of a young child, usually a girl, sold into slavery was only three years. The Sentinel building was built and owned by a corrupt politician who went to prison. The Kingston Trio owned the building during the 1960s as it fell into disrepair. Francis Ford Coppola purchased and renovated the building in the mid-seventies. There are mysteries mentioned in the text keep the reader engaged. What happened to Ken Cathcart after he abruptly stopped working from 1958 until his death in 1985? How did he, an outsider, gain the trust of the Six Company leaders? Why is the young shoeshine boy carrying a pistol? And there are many more. I read Gold Mountain Big City in a single afternoon because I couldn't put it down! That amount of time does not do this exquisite book justice. Each page identifies a familiar building or street corner and the events that occurred there. It is too much to absorb in an afternoon for it is packed with information. I’d suggest that after reading a portion, one visits the sites. I highly recommend this beautiful book to a history buff. But beyond that, this book truly is for anyone who loves San Francisco, particularly Chinatown and North Beach.

We purchased this book as SF locals, having moved here in early 1959, thus interested in a different viewpoint of Chinatown from the usual perspectives. It is a visual delight, and the narratives that coordinate with the sections of the map are both useful and informative, with an attention to detail that is extraordinary. We enjoyed it so much, we purchased it a couple more times as a gift for other friends who, in their 80's and 90's, grew up, worked and played in the area during the subject era. Everyone has been delighted with the personal viewpoint of a vanished living community. One problem we had with the shipping/packaging though. The subsequent books arrived on time, but the packaging was non-existent. Despite being marked as gift items, these beautiful coffee table books arrived with no plastic over-wrap to protect them from damage. Luckily, no damage, but the lack of the overwrap made for a less than stellar gifting experience. All the same, a wonderful book.

Everything is wonderful about this book; the (old) photos, the beautiful old artwork, and the very interesting written material.

If you have any interest at all in San Francisco, I think you would find this instantly fascinating. It's obviously put together with care and passion.

Jim Schein has put together a fantastic book of San Francisco Chinatown based on Ken Cathcart's 1947 Illustrated Map and photographs. As you page through the book, you will be brought back into a time when Chinatown was considered mysterious to outsiders not familiar with its inhabitants and families. I have enjoyed paging through the book - reading the stories, looking through the photographs and historic maps. Jim has helped recreate a lost period of time, landscape, activities and family life during1940's and 1950's Chinatown.

beautiful book another great experience

This is an unforgettable treasure trove of a book. The photographs of San Francisco in the 30s and 40s, particularly those of the city's Chinatown, are some of the most evocative I have seen. I love the big format of the book and the inclusion of maps. Cameron and Company, the publisher of this book, is putting out truly beautiful books related to Bay Area history. I love their motto of publishing books that have to be experienced as physical books. You can feel their devotion to the art of bookmaking on every page.

“Map” is Exactly like cover a book. Interesting information. Wonderful photography