Portal:San Francisco Bay Area/Did you know/38


 * ... that the 1878 constitution of San Francisco's Congregation Beth Israel prohibited members from praying out loud?
 * ... that H. Brett Melendy was the first chairman of the history department of San José State University, California?
 * ... that a new orchid species, Ornithidium donaldeedodii, was "discovered" when a mislabeled plant at the University of California Botanical Garden had its DNA analyzed?
 * ... that California's first State House was originally a hotel in San Jose owned by businessman Pierre "Don Pedro" Sainsevain and his associates?
 * ... that Medal of Honor recipient William R. Parnell (pictured) died in San Francisco, California on August 20, 1910, after falling from a street car?

April - June 2010