The Castro
About The Castro
The Castro was farmland known as Eureka Valley through the 19th century. Castro Street is named after José Castro, a Mexican-era governor of Alta California. The Market Street Cable Railway reached the valley in 1887 and set off a housing boom that filled the blocks with the Victorians still standing today. For decades it was a working-class neighborhood, largely Scandinavian and Irish. The Castro Theatre, designed by Timothy Pflueger, opened on Castro Street in 1922.
The area became a gay neighborhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Servicemen discharged through San Francisco during and after World War II had stayed in the city, rents were low, and the Victorian housing was plentiful. Gay residents bought and restored the houses and opened businesses along Castro Street.
Harvey Milk opened Castro Camera at 575 Castro Street in 1973 and ran his campaigns from the shop. In 1977 he was elected to the Board of Supervisors, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the country. He and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall on November 27, 1978.
Upcoming Events
Where to Drink
All bars →
Things to Do
All activities →
GLBT Historical Society Museum
First stand-alone LGBTQ history museum in the United States, opened January 2011 in a 1,600-square-foot Castro storefront. Rotating exhibitions draw from the GLBT Historical Society's archive of 1,000+ collections; past shows include Harvey Milk's camera shop and the 1966 Compton's Cafeteria riot. 4127 18th Street, $10, free first Wednesdays. A planned Market Street expansion was approved by the Board of Supervisors in late 2024.
Seward Street Slides
Two long concrete slides built into a steep hillside in 1973, designed by 14-year-old Kim Clark, who won a design competition organized by sculptor Ruth Asawa. The park opened after a decade of neighborhood resistance, including a 1966 sit-in. Grab cardboard from the pile at the bottom. Free, Tuesday through Sunday 10am to 5pm at 70 Corwin Street.
Twin Peaks
At 922 feet, the second-highest point in San Francisco after Mt. Davidson (928), and the highest you can drive to. Christmas Tree Point is the main viewpoint, with a short trail running between the two summits. The 37-Corbett Muni stops at the base on Crestline. Bring layers, wind is fierce.
