SF West History Minute

Twin Peaks Tunnel

The Twin Peaks Tunnel connected downtown with the west side in 1918 (SF West History Minute Aug 18, 2009)

A Family in Lakeshore Park

Home movie footage courtesy of the Prelinger Archives in the Gellert-built neighborhood south of Sloat Boulevard. (SF West History Minute Sep 22, 2010)

48th Avenue Grocery

Frances Kniffin Larkin, a Sunset District resident for over 80 years, remembers when "Your Market, My Deli" at 1460-48th Avenue was Brucker's in the 1930s. (SF West History Minute Mar 15, 2010)

The King Philip Shipwreck

On January 25, 1878, The King Philip was one of three ships to leave San Francisco Bay, but the only one to stay in San Francisco. (SF West History Minute Apr 19, 2011)

Marine Exchange Lookout

Historian John Martini tells us about one the San Francisco's many west side secrets. (SF West History Minute Dec 27, 2013)

Camp Merritt

In 1898 the Army bivouacked thousands of soldiers on open land in the Inner Richmond District (SF West History Minute Aug 31, 2010)

Honest Abe Avenue

Remnants of America's first highway, the Lincoln Highway. (SF West History Minute Jun 16, 2009)

Broderick-Terry Duel Reenactment

The 150th Anniversary of the last duel in California (SF West History Minute Sep 13, 2009)

Mystery Monoliths of the Richmond

What are those things at 45th Avenue and Geary? (SF West History Minute Jun 8, 2009)

Patron Saint Against Earthquakes

The story of the Ingleside's St Emydius (SF West History Minute May 20, 2009)

We Love the Beach

Ocean Beach. Sunset. See you there. (SF West History Minute Oct 18, 2009)

Smaller Stucco

In 1941, builder Ray Galli broke the Sunset District mold with his tiny single-story homes. (SF West History Minute Nov 9, 2009)

Death's Crossing

Revisiting what was one of the most dangerous intersections in San Francisco (SF West History Minute Sep 8, 2009)

Burger Memories

Bill Alvarado remembers Happy Herb's at the WNP Picnic/BBQ, October 3, 2010. (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)

Mohawk Gasoline Station

Closed for 25-30 years, the old Mohawk gas station on the southeast corner of Irving Street and 16th Avenue still has curb appeal. (SF West History Minute Feb 8, 2011)

Kezar Stadium

For over 90 years, People have gathered at the Southeast corner of Golden Gate Park (SF West History Minute Apr 15, 2017)

Life Saving Station

Built in 1878, a building used by the Life Saving Service was moved in 1923 from Golden Gate Park to the Richmond District. (SF West History Minute Nov 17, 2009)

Backyard History

Marty Larkin has added bit and pieces of San Francisco's history to the backyard of his Outer Sunset District home. (SF West History Minute Mar 9, 2010)

Mt. Davidson Easter

The first easter service on top of Mt. Davidson was in 1923 (SF West History Minute Apr 1, 2013)

Ocean Beach Archaeology

Beneath the sands of Ocean Beach near the end of Taraval lie remnants of former civilzation (SF West History Minute Feb 24, 2016)

World War II in San Francisco

John Martini recounts how close the war came on Christmas Eve 1941 (SF West History Minute Nov 22, 2011)

Parking Lot Secret History

A parking lot in more ways than one. (SF West History Minute May 12, 2009)

70 Years of Sunset Butchery

The Bowcock family opened their first butcher shop on 20th Avenue in 1908. (SF West History Minute Sep 15, 2010)

Geneva Carbarn

Built in 1901, The Geneva Carbarn and Powerhouse at Geneva and San Jose Avenue needs rehabilitation (SF West History Minute Jul 10, 2012)

The Great Sign Search

We go looking throughout the hills West of Twin Peaks for artifacts of an earlier day (SF West History Minute Oct 28, 2009)

Larsen Park

One man's gift to the City (SF West History Minute May 27, 2009)

Remembering the former operator of the Giant Camera, first lighter of the Burning Man, and founder of the Suicide Club, at El Cerrito's Playland-Not-at-the-Beach on January 2, 2010. (SF West History Minute Jan 9, 2010)

Jimmy's Old Car Picnic

Jimmy's Old Car Picnic is an annual tradition in Golden Gate Park (SF West History Minute Oct 11, 2009)

Seventh Avenue Station

Lindsey Fryar tells us what that odd shed is at 7th Avenue and Fulton Street. (SF West History Minute Oct 4, 2010)

Laffin' Sal

Is Laffin' Sal one of a kind? (SF West History Minute Aug 10, 2009)

Shipwrecks at Lands End

At the particularly low tides you can see a number of shipwrecks at Lands End (SF West History Minute Jan 3, 2012)

Roadhouse Archeology

Remnants of an early 20th century Ocean Beach roadhouse hidden inside a nondescript apartment building (SF West History Minute Feb 24, 2013)

Tombstone Search

When the cemeteries were moved from the Richmond District, the remains went one place and the headstones another. (SF West History Minute Jan 28, 2010)

House of Stone

In 1927, this house was the most popular destination in Forest Hill. (SF West History Minute Feb 10, 2010)

Apartment Building with Surprising Past

Is this Ocean Beach building more than it seems? (SF West History Minute Jul 7, 2010)

Sutro's Conservatory

Buried treasures under the lawn at Sutro Heights Park show the location of a long lost building (SF West History Minute Jan 31, 2013)

Remnant of a Richmond Dairy

The Gables stationery store at 5636 Geary Boulevard was once the home of an 1890s dairyman. (SF West History Minute Jan 3, 2013)

The Columbarium

Lindsey walks among the dead at the Columbarium, once part of the Odd Fellows Cemetery. (SF West History Minute Dec 1, 2010)

The Breon Gate

Why is there a huge gate at 19th and Lincoln? (SF West History Minute Sep 1, 2009)

Mystery Dividing Line

Funny shaped buildings in West Portal mark a link to San Francisco's Mexican era (SF West History Minute Apr 29, 2011)

Inner Richmond History Walk

A stroll though the Richmond (SF West History Minute May 11, 2009)

Opening the Golden Gate

The Golden Gate Bridge opened in May 1937 (SF West History Minute May 9, 2012)

Monkey Island

A 1940 Trip to San Francisco Zoo's Monkey Island (SF West History Minute Apr 22, 2010)

Famous Gardeners

David and Katie take a look at some famous trees at the California Palace of Legion of Honor. (SF West History Minute Mar 4, 2011)

SF's Widest Street

What is the widest street in the City? It's in the outside lands. (SF West History Minute Jun 1, 2009)

Prayerbook Cross

Golden Gate Park's Prayerbook Cross commemorates Sir Francis Drake (SF West History Minute Feb 14, 2013)

Boy Scout Roadhouse

The first Beach Chalet had a long and moving history (SF West History Minute Mar 20, 2013)

Hydrant Seek

Jamie O'Keefe discusses the ebbs and flows of San Francisco's differing fire hydrants (SF West History Minute May 15, 2013)

Balboa Theaters of San Francisco

The Richmond's beloved Balboa Theater wasn't the first. (SF West History Minute Jul 8, 2009)

Richmond Cheese Lovers

Some would argue that 22nd and Geary was once the Richmond District's heart of Mexican Cuisine. (SF West History Minute Mar 23, 2010)

WNP Open House

People come from all over to meet in the Westen Neighborhoods (SF West History Minute May 18, 2009)

Saved Shack in the Zoo

1906's temporary building finds a permanent home at the zoo. (SF West History Minute May 14, 2009)

Doggie Diner Head

The Doggie Diner Head, San Francisco Landmark #254 on Sloat Blvd (SF West History Minute Jun 24, 2009)

Elk Glen Lake

Golden Gate Park's Elk Glen Lake is elkless now. (SF West History Minute Jan 10, 2013)

Walking the Lakeside Neighborhood

An Icelandic enclave near Stonestown (SF West History Minute Apr 16, 2010)

Grove of Memory

A Golden Gate Park memorial to those who died serving in war. (SF West History Minute May 27, 2010)

Sunnyside Conservatory

Reopening the Sunnyside Conservatory (SF West History Minute Dec 7, 2009)

Engine Company 33

117 Broad Street is a historic 1890s firehouse and formerly the home of Engine Company 33. (SF West History Minute May 27, 2010)

Pine Lake's Many Names

An SF West History Minute on the different names for Pine Lake. (SF West History Minute Jan 6, 2010)

Laguna Honda Wall

History of Laguna Honda Hospital's old cobblestone wall at the intersection of Laguna Honda Boulevard, Woodside Avenue, and Dewey Boulevard. (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)

Narrow Sidewalks

Reusing one the the Sunset's great buildings (SF West History Minute Jun 11, 2009)

Golden Gate Park's Oak Woodlands

In the built environment of Golden Gate Park, there is at least one historically natural place. (SF West History Minute Feb 18, 2014)

The Missing Rails of 20th Avenue

once upon a time 20th Avenue was the main north-south route through the Sunset (SF West History Minute Jan 20, 2010)

The Mothers Building

Once a primary stopping place for any trip to the Zoo. (SF West History Minute Feb 26, 2010)

Secret Past of 649 - 8th Avenue

The story of a curious building in the Inner Richmond District (SF West History Minute Jan 18, 2011)

Polly Ann Ice Cream

A good gamble in the Outer Sunset for almost 60 years (SF West History Minute Apr 6, 2011)

Artifact Discovery

A piece of Playland history found in West Portal (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)

Sunset School Demolition

The Sunset Cooperative Nursery School was demolished after 59 years to make way for a new school. (SF West History Minute Feb 22, 2010)

KGO House

The off-screen elf thinks he knows everything... (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)

We Love the Fog

Woody LaBounty waxes poetic on the west side's Summer visitor (SF West History Minute Sep 24, 2009)

Speedway Meadow

How did Speedway Meadow get its name? Ask the people at Jimmy's Old Car Picnic. (SF West History Minute Dec 12, 2011)

Sutro's Tunnels

The story behind the mysterious tunnels through Point Lobos. (SF West History Minute Mar 1, 2013)

Johnnie the Birdman

A 100-year-old reminder of a local busker (SF West History Minute Sep 7, 2012)

Mailboxes of Golden Gate Heights

Up on the hill, Henry Doelger built two versions of every house, and they're not all alike (SF West History Minute Jan 17, 2013)

The Larkins Building

The Larkins Building on the NW corner of Arguello and Geary boulevards has in interesting and mostly unknown history. (SF West History Minute Jan 19, 2010)

Ortega Branch Library Goodbye

Tearing down our recent history (SF West History Minute Aug 26, 2009)

Sunset Tank Houses and Wells

Lurking in backyards and underground are some Outer Sunset District water sources. (SF West History Minute Dec 20, 2010)

Sutro Library

The Sutro Library reopens at their fancy new digs (SF West History Minute Aug 8, 2012)

New Shack Identified

Recent renovations yield a historic dicovery in the Castro... another 1906 Earthquake refugee cottage. (SF West History Minute Jul 31, 2009)

Business as Usual on Ocean Avenue

Ocean Avenue, a street of firsts. (SF West History Minute Jun 30, 2009)

Foerster Street Landslide

On February 6, 1942, fifteen feet of mud overwhelmed a block of the Sunnyside. (SF West History Minute Feb 7, 2013)

Sutro Heights "Bunkers"

John Martini demystifies the concrete structures in Sutro Heights (SF West History Minute Oct 1, 2009)