Prior to the 1850s, Nob Hill was called California Hill (after California Street, which climbs its steep eastern face), but was renamed after the
Central Pacific Railroad's Big Four – known as the Nobs – who built their mansions on the hill. The area was settled in the rapid urbanization happening in the city in the late 19th century. Because of the views and its central position, it became an exclusive enclave of the rich and famous on the west coast who built large mansions in the
neighborhood. This included prominent tycoons such as
Leland Stanford, founder of
Stanford University and other members of The Big Four. These early citizens were known as
nabobs, a term for prominent and wealthy men. This was shortened to
nob, probably the origin of the area's eventual name. The neighborhood was destroyed in the
1906 earthquake and fire, except for the granite walls surrounding the Stanford, Crocker, Huntington and Hopkins mansions. These walls remain and black scars caused by smoke from the intense fires that burned after the quake can still be seen. Also gutted by the fires was the newly completed
Fairmont Hotel at Mason and California Streets, as well as the
mansion of tycoon
James Clair Flood. Both structures had stone exteriors that survived the fires, and both buildings were subsequently cleaned and refurbished. The Fairmont Hotel remains in operation to this day and the Flood Mansion is the headquarters of the exclusive
Pacific-Union Club. While the neighborhood was able to maintain its affluence following the quake, every mansion owner moved or rebuilt elsewhere. Some rebuilt mansions further west in San Francisco, for example, in
Pacific Heights and
Cow Hollow. In place of where the mansions had been located, swank hotels were erected. Hotels built over the ruins of the former mansions include the
Mark Hopkins, Huntington and Stanford Court. == Characteristics ==