Stories
San Francisco stories for walks, landmarks, and local context
Short, source-backed reads that explain what you are seeing while you move through the city.
City story
Postcard Row
There's a reason this spot is a classic for photographers. Alamo Square Park sits at the top of a hill, offering a sweeping view of do…
City story
Skyline and Palms
If you're looking for the vibrant heart of the neighborhood, head to Mission Dolores Park. Established in 1906, this nearly 16-acre oa…
City story
Symphony of the Dunes
Long before Golden Gate Park was a lush oasis, it was a vast stretch of sand dunes. To transform the landscape, early 20th-century eng…
City story
Taming the Dunes
It's hard to imagine now, but Golden Gate Park was once a wasteland of shifting sand dunes. When the park opened in 1870, it took a mu…
City story
The Active Heart of the Mission
Tucked away at the western edge of the Mission District is Mission Dolores Park, a vibrant 16-acre gathering place established in 1906…
City story
The Ancient Roots of the Presidio
Before the Presidio was a U.S. Army post or a National Park, it was a landscape defined by the natural world and its first inhabitants…
City story
The Architectural Illusion of Chinatown
Discover how Chinatown's iconic look was a strategic move to attract tourists after the 1906 earthquake, designed by American architec…
City story
The Art of Remembrance
At the intersection of Castro, Market, and 17th Streets, art is used to hold a heavy and necessary memory. The Pink Triangle Park and…
City story
The Art of the Dogpatch
Deep in the historic Dogpatch district, the Minnesota Street Project is redefining how we experience art. Founded in 2016 by Deborah a…
City story
The Art of the Solo
Hidden in the Mission District is The Marsh SF, a theater company founded in 1989 by Stephanie Weisman. While many venues go for the b…
City story
The Barbary Coast
A look at the historic Barbary Coast, San Francisco's notorious red-light district of the 19th century.
City story
The Bay's Hidden Neighbors
Imagine a world beneath the waves, right here at the edge of Pier 39. At the Aquarium of the Bay, the focus isn't on tropical reefs, b…
City story
The Beginning of the City
If you want to find where San Francisco truly began, you have to head to the Presidio. Long before the skyscrapers, this land at the G…
City story
The Bird Sanctuary of the Rock
Alcatraz is famous for its prisoners, but the island has a much wilder history. Long before it became a federal penitentiary, this roc…
City story
The Bronze Cowboys
Take a look at the bronze figures of the Pioneer Monument. It's easy to imagine the dust and noise of the nineteenth century right her…
City story
The Brutalist Splash
At the end of Market Street, right across from the Ferry Building, lies Embarcadero Plaza. While the plaza is known for its capacity t…
City story
The City's First Foundation
If you're looking for the oldest intact building in San Francisco, you'll find it at Mission Dolores. Founded on October 9, 1776, by F…
City story
The Climb to the Top
If you want a workout that rewards you with the best views in the city, look no further than Telegraph Hill. This neighborhood is famo…
City story
The Coastal Batteries
Tucked away along the rugged cliffs of the Presidio is a series of concrete giants: the historic gun batteries. These weren't just wal…
City story
The Coast's Rugged Edge
If you want to see where the city meets the raw power of the Pacific, head to the Batteries to Bluffs Trail. This rugged point-seven-m…
City story
The Concrete Column
Rising two hundred and ten feet above Telegraph Hill, Coit Tower is more than just a viewpoint; it's a striking example of Art Deco de…
City story
The Concrete Column of Telegraph Hill
Perched atop Telegraph Hill is a slender white concrete column that has defined the city's skyline since 1933. Coit Tower wasn't built…
City story
The Counterculture Hub
Imagine the 1960s, when the air was thick with psychedelic music and a spirit of rebellion. That energy found a home at The Fillmore.…
City story
The Counterculture Hub
Imagine walking into a venue where the air is thick with the spirit of the sixties. This is The Fillmore. Built in 1912 as Majestic Ha…