The Castro
About The Castro
The Castro is San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ neighborhood, a compact commercial district at the western end of Market Street, centered on Castro Street between Market and 19th.
About the Castro
The Castro took shape as a gay neighborhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Servicemen who had been discharged through San Francisco during and after World War II stayed in the city, rents in the area were low, and Victorian housing was plentiful. 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 and became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the country. He was assassinated at City Hall on November 27, 1978, along with Mayor George Moscone.
What to See and Do
The Castro Theatre at 429 Castro Street opened in 1922 and is a city landmark, with a Spanish Colonial facade and a Wurlitzer organ that played before screenings for decades. The theater is under renovation, so check its schedule before planning a visit. The rainbow crosswalks are at the intersection of Castro and 18th. Harvey Milk Plaza sits above the Castro Muni station, marked by a large rainbow flag that has flown at Market and Castro since 1997. The GLBT Historical Society Museum is a half block west at 4127 18th Street. Cliff’s Variety, a hardware and housewares store, has been on Castro Street since 1971.
The History
The rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker and first flown in San Francisco in 1978. During Pride weekend each June, a large pink triangle is mounted on the Twin Peaks hillside above the neighborhood. Twin Peaks Tavern at 401 Castro, on the corner of Market and Castro, was among the first gay bars in the country to have full-length open windows onto the street rather than a covered front. It is on the city’s Legacy Business Registry.
Getting There
Muni Metro: the K, L, M, S, and T lines stop at Castro Station underground, and the exit puts you at the foot of the commercial strip. The F Market streetcar runs vintage cars from Fisherman’s Wharf down Market Street and turns around at Castro and 17th. The 24 Divisadero bus runs north and south through the Castro toward the Mission and Pacific Heights. On foot from the Mission, walk up 18th Street from Valencia, about a mile through Dolores Park.
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.
