History
San Francisco history and landmarks
San Francisco history and landmarks: start with Alcatraz Island, Asian Art Museum, and California Academy of Sciences. Use the 160 places below to build a plan around this theme; each place has source-backed details behind its description.
160 places
Places to start with
Source-backed place · History
Filbert Cottages
A cluster of four historic vernacular frame cottages built in 1907 to house survivors of the Great Earthquake, now serving as a s…
Source-backed place · Religious sites
Fishermen's and Seamen's Memorial Chapel
A serene wood-framed sanctuary dedicated to local mariners lost at sea, this hidden landmark offers a peaceful escape from the bu…
Source-backed place · History
Fort Winfield Scott
A stunning 30-acre campus along the Presidio's western shore, this former Army coastal defense headquarters blends Mission Reviva…
Source-backed place · Museums
GLBT Historical Society Museum
The first stand-alone museum of LGBTQ history and culture in the United States, this essential Castro District institution celebr…
Source-backed place · Museums
Galería de la Raza
A pioneering Chicano/Latinx art gallery and artist collective founded in 1970, serving as a vital hub for art, thought, and activ…
Source-backed place · Museums
Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Visitor Center
A free, family-friendly museum located in a historic Coast Guard station at the west end of Crissy Field, offering stunning views…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Hallidie Building
A pioneering architectural landmark at 130 Sutter Street, the Hallidie Building is celebrated as one of the first structures in t…
Source-backed place · History
Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library
A dedicated public library branch in the Eureka Valley neighborhood, honoring the legacy of LGBTQ+ pioneer Harvey Milk.
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Harvey Milk Plaza
A powerful landmark in the heart of the Castro, honoring gay rights activist Harvey Milk and serving as a vibrant hub for LGBTQ+…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
Herschell-Spillman Carousel
A rare 1914 four-row menagerie carousel featuring 62 colorful animals, including dragons and camels, located in the southeast cor…
Source-backed place · History
Hippie Hill
A legendary gentle slope at the Stanyan Street entrance of Golden Gate Park, Hippie Hill serves as a historic epicenter for San F…
Source-backed place · Museums
International Art Museum of America
A hidden jewel in SoMa, this nonprofit museum offers free admission to 25,000 square feet of global art, featuring an indoor gard…
Source-backed place · History
Janis Joplin's Apartment (122 Lyon Street)
The only officially documented San Francisco residence of rock icon Janis Joplin, a turn-of-the-century Queen Anne Victorian in t…
Source-backed place · History
Jimi Hendrix Red House
A bright red landmark in the Haight-Ashbury district, this residence is traditionally associated with rock legend Jimi Hendrix du…
Source-backed place · Landmarks
John F. Kennedy Promenade
A vibrant, permanently car-free boulevard in Golden Gate Park, featuring art installations, public pianos, and protected bikeways…
Source-backed place · Religious sites
Kong Chow Temple
A historic Cantonese temple and benevolent association founded in 1849, dedicated to Guan Di, the God of War and literature, feat…
Source-backed place · Museums
Long Now Foundation / The Interval at Long Now
A unique fusion of a bar, café, and museum dedicated to long-term thinking, featuring a floor-to-ceiling library and a chalkboard…
Source-backed place · History
Lovers' Lane
A historic 19th-century foot trail in the Presidio, once used by U.S. soldiers to visit their families and sweethearts in San Fra…
Source-backed place · Museums
Minnesota Street Project
A contemporary art hub in the Dogpatch district, featuring 14 independently owned galleries, a restaurant, and vast warehouse spa…
Source-backed place · Museums
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
A cornerstone of San Francisco's Latino cultural life, this historic center promotes visual arts, music, theater, and dance, hous…
Source-backed place · History
Murphy Windmill
A historic wooden windmill in the southwest corner of Golden Gate Park, once the largest in the world, built to pump groundwater…
Source-backed place · Museums
Museum of Russian Culture
The largest Russian museum in the West, this hidden gem preserves the legacy of post-revolutionary emigrants through rare artifac…
Source-backed place · Museums
Museum of the African Diaspora
A contemporary art museum dedicated to the African Diaspora, located in the Yerba Buena Arts District, featuring rotating exhibit…
Source-backed place · Religious sites
Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
The first cathedral built in California, this Gothic Revival landmark in Chinatown is a resilient survivor of the 1906 earthquake…