Big Alma: San Francisco's Alma Spreckels (SC)

$12.95 at de Young Museum.

One of San Francisco's most vivid and unforgettable characters, Alma de Bretteville Spreckels rose from poverty to become one of the city's wealthiest women. Bred with a belief that she was destined for greatness, she became an important philanthropist and founded, with her husband, the California Palace of the Legion the Honor, often regarded as the city's most beautiful museum. However, Alma's humble beginnings, scandalous behavior, and bohemian friendships would alienate her from the cream of San Francisco…