'' A Trip Down Market Street '' is a 13-minute actuality film recorded by placing a movie camera on the front of a cable car as it traveled down San Francisco ’s Market Street . The film shows many details of daily life in a major early 20th century American city , including the transportation , fashions and architecture of the era . The film begins at 8th Street and continues eastward to the cable car turntable , at The Embarcadero , in front of the Ferry Building . Landmarks passed in the latter part of the first half include the Call Building ( then San Francisco 's tallest ) and the Palace Hotel ( both on the right ; Lotta 's Fountain is on the left between the two but is in the shade ) . The film was produced by the four Miles brothers : Harry , Herbert , Earle and Joe . It is notable for capturing San Francisco four days before the city 's devastating earthquake and fire , which started on the morning of Wednesday , April 18 , 1906
the city 's devastating earthquake and fire
1906 San Francisco earthquake
A Trip Down Market Street