The San Francisco origins of the game of Monopoly

Shaping San Francisco, "a participatory community history project documenting and archiving overlooked stories and memories of San Francisco," is producing a combination revelatory history evening presenting the San Francisco origins of the game of Monopoly, and a board game night following the presentation. Come get wised up, and stay to join in convivial amusement.

David Giesen, amateur historian, will present an interactive history of the game of Monopoly, exploring its political roots in San Francisco, and those political roots' relevance to living in the city today. He'll have a facsimile of the original 1904 game, and editions of Parker Brothers-busting versions of the game. Along the way he'll introduce you to Lizzie Magee, the woman who devised the game, inspired by San Francisco's Big Idea that social control of land value will lead to affordable housing for all.

After the interactive talk, stay to play board games (bring your favorite) and make new friends!

Housing rights activists are sure to stagger home, drunk on the deep history and import of the original game.