The oldest street in San Francisco was originally called Dupont Street, but was later re-named after a President. Which street is this?

San Francisco's oldest thoroughfare has a history as colorful as its modern-day Chinatown setting. Originally laid out by the Spanish as the Calle de la Fundacion, it was later named Dupont Street. For much of the 19th century, Dupont Street was the central artery of the city's burgeoning Chinese community. However, it also carried a notorious reputation, closely associated with the vice and danger of the nearby Barbary Coast, a district infamous for its saloons, gambling dens, and criminal activity.

The devastating 1906 earthquake and subsequent fires leveled much of the city, including the buildings along Dupont Street. This catastrophe provided a unique opportunity for a complete rebirth. As the city began to rebuild, community leaders and influential Chinese merchants decided to rebrand the area to shed its old, unsavory reputation. They chose to rename the street in honor of Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th U.S. President. Grant had been a popular figure, particularly after a world tour where he spoke favorably about the Chinese people. This symbolic renaming was part of a successful effort to transform the area into the vibrant, tourist-friendly Chinatown we know today, forever linking San Francisco's oldest street with a former president.