City of Wood

In City of Wood, architectural historian James Michael Buckley delves into the impact of California's 1849 gold rush on the development of San Francisco, highlighting the essential role of the redwood lumber industry in shaping the city. Through a mix of labor, urban, industrial, and social histories, Buckley explores the connections between remote logging camps and bustling urban centers, drawing on a range of sources like newspaper articles and photographs. By conceptualizing the lumber industry as a cohesive community, he reveals how capitalist resource extraction interlinks various locations, offering a fresh perspective on architectural history that emphasizes economic relationships across regions.