F I R S TP R E V198N E X TLAST

Robert Louis Stevenson Fountain, Portsmouth Square
The young author came to San Francisco in 1879 to wait for the divorce of his love, Fanny Osbourne. Nearly penniless, the 29 year old Scot rented a room on Bush Street and spent his time writing in Portsmouth Square. During this time he met another author, Charles Warren Stoddard whose 'South Sea Idyls' inspired Stevenson to travel to Somoa with Fanny after the two married. Following his death in the South Seas, San Franciscan writers erected this fountain as a monument to the author of 'Treasure Island', 'Kidnapped', and 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'. His widow, Fanny moved back to San Francisco and joined the city's Bohemian community, living in a Mediterranean villa, designed by Willis Polk at 1100 Lombard Street.
[ MAP E-15 ]