Haight-Ashbury of San Francisco
There is a place in San Francisco where the hippie movement started, where personalities, including Janis Joplin and members of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, called home. This place is called Haight-Ashbury.
The Haight-Ashbury District of San Francisco started out great, being one of the areas to survive the fires caused by the great San Francisco earthquake in 1906. But, like most cities during that time, the Haight-Ashbury district got hit hard by the Depression. Residents started moving out.
Then during the housing shortage of World War II, the large Victorian houses were used to offer cheaper housing by dividing the interior into several apartments. Because of the cheap housing and vacant houses, the value of the area declined, leading the way for the introduction of the bohemian and illegal drug culture in this district.
By 1967, however, it all changed when the likes of Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead started writing and performing songs about the Haight-Ashbury district. The songs became a hit and inspired the flower power movement in San Francisco.
The Haight-Ashbury district has stayed true to its bohemian culture and continues to be one of the interesting and colorful neighborhoods of San Francisco. You’ll never run out of options when walking in this district.
1. Amoeba Music
Amoeba Music is one of the largest independent music stores in California (or even the world). They carry about 100,000 CDs, records and cassettes in the San Francisco store alone, both new and used. Musical performances are also regularly scheduled in their stores.
1855 Haight St. San Francisco, CA; Tel. (415)831-1200
2. The Red Victorian
Constructed in 1904, The Red Victorian was first known as the Jefferson Hotel before it became Jeffrey-Haight in 1967. Finally, Dr. Sami Sunchid bought the property and painted the exteriors a red color and named it The Red Victorian. With 18 unique guest rooms, The Red Victorian is a bed-and-breakfast that regularly hosts World Conversations at the Peace Cafe. Share and support its quest for love and peace, and book a room here to meet other people like you.
1665 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117; Tel (415)864-1978
3. Bound Together Bookstore
Bound Together Bookstore is “an anarchist collective bookstore”, as it says on the store’s big sign. Expect literature by Noah Chomsky, Philip K. Dick, Henry David Thoreau and William Gibson. Run by volunteers, the bookstore promotes anarchist ideas and literature, obviously. Don’t expect general fiction over here.
1369 Haight St. San Francisco, CA 94117; Tel. (415)431-8355
There’s still so much to discover about the Haight-Ashbury district so be sure to include this neighborhood in your next San Francisco visit.
