Civic Center/Larkin Street

Now: A cluster of great grey columned buildings, official and public: government, library, museum, auditorium. Plazas and courtyards break up the spaces, visited by opera and symphony-goers in the evenings, and the city's destitute at all hours. Little Saigon carries the flavor of Vietnam down the strip of Larkin Street. A Farmer's Market is held in Civic Center Plaza on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Then: Following the collapse of first City Hall in 1906 earthquake, the present structure opened in 1915. See related postcards.

How To Get There: Both Muni and BART stop directly the Civic Center Station. It's also an easy (daytime) walk through the Tenderloin from Union Square. Follow O'Farrell west and turn south (left) at Larkin.

City Hall
Trees in Civic Center Plaza, west of City Hall
Playground in Civic Center Plaza

Farmer's Market at Civic Center Plaza (Wed, Sun)
Sculpture in Civic Center Plaza
Doors on the west side of City Hall

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, on Grove Street, at the south side of Civic Center Plaza
The Asian Art Museum, on Larkin Street
The Herbst Theater, inside the War Memorial Veterans Building, on Van Ness, across from City Hall

Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall, on Van Ness
Sculpture in front of the Symphony Hall
War Memorial Opera House, on Van Ness, across the street from City Hall

State of California Building, on Van Ness at McAllister
Federal Building, between Civic Center and United Nations Plaza
Pioneer Monument

San Francisco Main Public Library, on Larkin at Grove, across from Civic Center Plaza
Civic Center Inn
Great American Music Hall, on O'Farrell, between Larkin and Polk