Now: Stately streets and alleys lined with historic brick buildings - high end art, antique, and furnishing dealers are the primary tenants now, supplemented by agencies and architecture firms. The area is never bustling, unless you count Bix and a couple of other dining/drinking spots at night.
Then: Jackson Square has history that you would hardly believe from walking through the area today. The city's east shoreline originally ended at about Battery Street, so this area, along with Broadway in North Beach, was the front line known as the Barbary Coast. When sailors stepped off their vessels, this was where they were simultaneously served and taken advantage of.
How To Get There: Jackson Square is a walking destination, and it's easy to go that way from the Financial District on Sansome Street, from Justin Herman Park and Embarcadero by Washington Street, or from North Beach at Pacific Avenue.
International Settlement Towers, at Pacific and Montgomery
Kartell US Furniture on Pacific Avenue near Montgomery
Barbary Coast Trail sidewalk plaque
Bix - American dining, on Gold Street, just north of Jackson Street, between Montgomery and Sansome
Hedge Gallery and Furniture Sales on Gold Street
Balance Street, between Jackson and Gold, in Jackson Square
Zinnia - American cuisine on Jackson near Montgomery
Peter Pap Oriental Rugs on Jackson Street
Lebreton Antiques Gallery on Jackson Street
Old Ship Saloon on Pacific at Battery
Hippodrome Building on Pacific Avenue
Jack Morton Worldwide, on Pacific Avenue
Montgomery Gallery
Bocadillos - Spanish, Tapas, on Montgomery Street, just north of Columbus
Amadi Carpets
Chappel and McCullar on Jackson Street
US Custom House Building on Battery Street
Digital Revolution Printing Services, on Jackson at Battery
Entrance to Sydney G. Walton Square Park in Jackson Square
Fountain in Walton Square Park
Inside Walton Square Park
Tiled tower in Walton Square Park
Residential homes overlooking Sydney G. Walton Square Park in Jackson Square
Buildings to the south of Sydney G. Walton Square Park
Pacific Avenue Mall, at the corner of Walton Square Park
Kokkari - Greek cuisine on Jackson Street at Front Street, across from Sydney G. Walton Square Park
Globe - American dining on Pacific Avenue at Battery
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