Hindu

• [1900] Swami Vivekananda was in San Francisco during spring 1900. He lectured on "The Science of Religion" on March 4 at Golden Gate Hall. [SF Chronicle, 3/3/1900, pg. 14] He lectured at Washington Hall on March 15 on "Mind Culture," and on "Concentration of Mind" the next day. He was profiled in the San Francisco Chronicle on March 18 (pg. 29, read an excerpt). On March 19, Unitarians helped organize a series of talks at Wendte Hall in Oakland on "India and Its People" and other topics. He started another series in April at 320 Post Street: "Worshipped and Worshipper" (Apr 9), "Formal Worship" (Apr 10), and "Devotion and Love" (probably April 19, or April 12) [SF Chronicle, Apr 10, 1900, pg. 5]
• [1908] The first Hindu temple in the United States was completed in 1908, and still stands today at 2963 Webster Street, San Francisco. This is significant both in terms of architectural and religious history. The Vedanta Society of Northern California has pictures, a short architectural history, and a description of the symbolism. We very highly recommend this excellent article about the building's history, design, and impact on the greater San Francisco community by Arijit Sen. Also see a 1921 photo by (Charles?) Weidner, and a modern view on Google Maps Street View. (There was a serious hate crime scare at the temple in 1906, but it turned out to be rocks thrown by boys from post-earthquake refugee camps.)
• [1911] UC Berkeley student Sarangadhar Das wrote a brilliantly scathing letter to Swami Trigunatita of the Vedanta Society for his attacks on Taraknath Das and "political" (i.e. pre-Ghadarite) students, and attempts to prevent one of his disciples from supporting the Berkeley students. Thrilling reading for the anti-clerical set, even a century on.

Buddhist

• [October 1893] Sri Lankan Buddhist scholar Angarika Dharmapala spoke in the Bay Area after participating in the Chicago 1893 World Congress of Religions, alongside Vivekananda. He spoke at the Second Unitarian Church in San Francisco, and the First Unitarian Church in Oakland. Read about his arrival in San Francisco, announcements of his talks, and a description of his San Francisco talk in the San Francisco Call.
• [1897] "The Rev H. Dharmapala" spoke at Stiles Hall in Berkeley on March 6, 1897 on "Christianity and Buddhism Reconciled," at an event organized by the Unitarian Society.
• [October 18, 1911] About 100 UC Berkeley students celebrated the 2500 year anniversary of the commencement of the teaching of Buddha [San Francisco Call article]

Christian

• [1905] Professor and preacher Samuel Satthianadhan was to give a series of lectures at the Pacific Theological Seminary in Berkeley. He had lectured at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, and was to lecture at Stanford Memorial Church on "what the Christian missions have done for India." [SF Chronicle, Dec 16 1905, p3, "East Indian to Preach in the Stanford Church"]
• [1913] Akhay Kumar Mozumdar launched Christian Yoga churches in Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda, and San Francisco. Christian Yoga appeared to be a syncretic Hindu/Christian mashup, combining belief in the divinity of Christ and reincarnation. The newspapers covered his speech in Oakland, covering South Asian migration and his church, on March 10, 1913 at the Christian Yoga Center at 570 24th Street, Oakland. (SF Call, May 11 1913, p23, "No Hindu Peril in U.S., He Says")