Excavation unearths relics of San Francisco's past

The ongoing construction of San Francisco's new Transbay Transit Center has uncovered lost treasures of the city's past on display at a new exhibit running through January 2012.

Household and industrial items, such as medicine, porcelain dolls, kitchenware, and bone toothbrushes offer clues about what life was like here for settlers who first rushed to the city in search of gold in 1849. The artifacts traveled from East Coast cities like New York and Philadelphia and from as far away as China and Europe.

The Transbay Archeology Exhibit at 201 Mission Street in the city's South of Market distrcit is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Apothecary jars

The colorful lid of this apothecary jar seems to depict a circus bear on display atop a pole.

Hand-painted porcelain dolls

These busts of hand-painted porcelain dolls were found at 40 Natoma Street and 45 Minna Street during construction.

Container for charcoal toothpaste

This container for charcoal toothpaste, manufactured by Bazin in San Francisco between 1850-1887, was found at 40 Natoma Street.

Charcoal toothpaste

Various apothecary jars and lids used for cosmetics and hygiene products, including this one made by B.B Thayer & Co. in Philadelphia, were found at 40 and 42 Natoma Street and 45 Minna Street.

Original Transbay Terminal

The original Transbay Terminal, seen here being demolished in 2011, was built in the 1930s.

Hunting dog with a bird in its mouth

A figurine of a hunting dog with a bird in its mouth was found at 38 Natoma Street.

Marbles

A set of painted and glazed children's marbles.

Glass ink bottles

Glass ink bottles, ink wells, and glue bottles from the Sponge Mucilage Company of New York were dug up in the area along Natoma Street in San Francisco.

Animal bone toothbrushes

Animal bone toothbrushes seen here, likely using cow, horse or boar hairs as bristles, were common hygiene products used during the late 19th century.