Stevenson Street dynamically reflects San Francisco’s past, present and future – a diamond in the rough forged by constant change, and the emergent possibility of each new day.
Skybridge History
The 500 block of Stevenson Street is punctuated by the iconic SkyBridge — an architectural landmark in the South of Market. Originally part of Weinstein’s Department Store, the bridge connected its main building on Market Street to a second building located on Stevenson Street, shuttling merchandise between the two. Because the buildings were built at different times, the floors did not line up precisely, resulting in the SkyBridge’s quirky, angled shape.
* Pictured: Stevenson Street ~1959. Image courtesy of FoundSF
Soma After WW2
The neighborhood blossomed in the 1950s as African-American, Latino, and Filipino people moved south of Market and established thriving communities rich in cultural life.
In 2016, the San Francisco recognized the area in SoMa bordered by 2nd, 11th, Brannan, and Market as SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. In 2017, the Transgender District was established, with its borders running south on 6th Street and intersecting with the Stevenson Street SkyBridge.
*Pictured: Gran Oriente Filipino families at Annual Convention at South Park in 1960. Courtesy of SF Public Library
life after dark
The undisputed heart of San Francisco’s nightlife industry, the area surrounding Stevenson Street comes alive after sundown as locals and visitors alike frequent the colorful nightclubs, trendy restaurants + bars, and cultural performance spaces that all call 6th Street home.
* Pictured: Monarch. Image Courtesy of JetSet Report.
Stevenson Street’s future
Years of community-led efforts to breathe new life into Stevenson Street are now bearing fruit. With the support of OEWD, Zendesk, and numerous stakeholders, the future of this historic street looks bright. Project first steps feature new lighting installations in the form of lanterns strung across the alley, followed by a series of pop-up events to reignite the confluence of culture and history at the SkyBridge on Stevenson Street.