Literary Tour of San Francisco

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Ina Coolbrith Park is a hidden treasure in Russian Hill that offers spectacular views of the city and San Francisco Bay. In 1947 the park was dedicated to California's first Poet Laureate, Ina Donna Coolbrith (1841 - 1928), as it is located near her former home at 1604 Taylor Street. Ina Coolbrith inhabited a literary and artistic circle that included Mark Twain, Isadora Duncan, and Jack London. She was a librarian at the Oakland Library Association, the San Francisco Mercantile Library, and the Bohemian Club. Her monographs: "A Perfect Day and Other Poems", "Songs from the Golden Gate", and "California" are available today in print and ebooks.

2. Jack Kerouac Alley

Jack Kerouac, author of "On the Road," was a leading member of the group of writers who are collectively known as the Beat Generation. Many of Kerouac's books were set in San Francisco, a city where Kerouac had many misadventures and affairs as chronicled by his own writing. Jack Kerouac Alley was dedicated in his honor in April 2007. The alley depicts a giant mural of Kerouac, images depicting his travels, and quotations from both his works as well as other Beat authors who were based in San Francisco.

3. Vesuvio Cafe

Vesuvio Cafe was established in 1948 and is located next to City Lights Bookstore. Together with City Lights Bookstore, one of the walls of the cafe forms Jack Kerouac Alley. Kerouac often frequented the cafe along with many of his fellow beat writers, leading to the cafe becoming a historical site as well as a popular tourist destination. Today, the cafe is still incredibly popular, and those who visit are greeted with a plethora of memorabilia from the Beat Generation.

4. City Lights Book Sellers & Publishers

The world-renowned bookstore was founded in 1953 by Beats poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin. In 1955, City Lights was expanded to include a book press, too. The site was the country's first all-paperbound book store and was well known for stocking anti-authoritarian titles. Since the press was established, City Lights has published over two hundred titles and continues to print several new titles annually. Additionally, the shop offers three stories of book shelves stocked with everything from unique and rare to new and popular titles.

5. Beat Museum

The Beat Museum, located on 540 Broadway, is a small, one-room museum with artifacts from the Beat era. The Beat Museum's collection includes photos, letters, a signed copy of Ginsberg's Howl, and Neal Cassady's striped referee-style shirt. At this site you can learn more about the influential people of this generation, and have a glimpse at life during this exciting time in American history.

6. Former Home of Allen Ginsburg

For a few years in the mid-1950s, Beat poet Allen Ginsberg lived and wrote in an apartment at 1010 Montgomery Street. It was in this apartment that Ginsberg wrote his controversial poem "Howl," which would eventually lead to obscenity charges for the author.

7. The Black Cat Bar

Not to be confused with The Black Cat of Los Angeles (site of a landmark gay rights protest in 1967), the Black Cat bar was a bar and club located here from 1906-1964. The bar garnered an increasingly gay and tourist clientele beginning in the war years, leading to a raid in 1949. A 1951 State Supreme Court case over its liquor license was one of the earliest cases establishing legal protections for LGBT Americans. In the years following, spurred in particular by the performances of José Sarria, who later went on to be the first openly gay candidate for public office in the United States. The Black Cat is a key example of how the gay public spaces became an integral part of the queer community in San Francisco.

8. The Robert Louis Stevenson Monument

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classics such as "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," lived in San Francisco for a short period between 1879-1880. While there, he struggled with his writing career and eventually fell severely ill. After his recovery, he married and soon departed for Napa. However, in remembrance of the author's time in San Francisco, this monument to him was erected in 1897.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Literary Tour of San Francisco

Created by Miranda Smith on November 28th 2018, 7:02:19 pm.

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Description

San Francisco, CA is a city that is frequently lauded for its diverse population and its notable architecture. However, the city also has an incredibly rich literary history, housing one of the country's oldest libraries and serving as both home and inspiration for many members of the legendary Beat Generation. Highlights of this tour include the Beat Museum, popular hangout spots for writers of the Beat Generation, and landmarks and art which pay tribute to these artists.

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Literary Tour of San Francisco

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