America’s Only Emperor: The True Story of Norton I

Joshua Abraham Norton was a wealthy merchant who lost everything in a 1852 rice gamble. Most people would have disappeared into the shadows, but Joshua did something much more interesting: he walked into a San Francisco newspaper office and declared himself Emperor of the United States. And the crazy part? The city actually went along with it. In this episode, we’re looking at the life of one of Northern California’s most legendary icons. From his "Imperial Decrees" to the private currency he printed (that local businesses actually accepted!), this is a story about a man who lost his fortune but found a kingdom in the streets of San Francisco.