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