In 1967 tens of thousands of young people came to this neighborhood of cheap Victorian flats for what became known as the Summer of Love: music, protest, new ideas and, soon after, a lot of trouble. The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and others lived on its streets. The counterculture faded, but the Haight has kept its colorful, slightly scruffy character.
What to see
- The corner of Haight and Ashbury, under the street signs everyone photographs.
- Haight Street, lined with vintage clothing stores, record shops, smoke shops, cafés and murals. At its western end, near the park, a huge independent record store fills a former bowling alley.
- The Victorian houses on the side streets, especially on Ashbury, Masonic and Page, many painted in bright colors. One on Ashbury was the Grateful Dead's house in the 1960s; it is private, so look from the sidewalk.
- Buena Vista Park, a steep wooded hill at the eastern end with views over the city.
Practical notes
The neighborhood is busiest on weekend afternoons. Some people sleep rough on Haight Street, especially near the park; it is generally fine by day. The Haight leads straight into Golden Gate Park at Stanyan Street, so plan to continue there. The Painted Ladies are a fifteen-minute walk east, and the Castro is over the hill to the south.
A short history
The Haight was built in the late nineteenth century as a middle-class streetcar suburb near the new Golden Gate Park. Its Victorian houses survived the 1906 fire, which stopped well to the east. By the 1950s many had been divided into cheap flats, and in the early 1960s students, artists and musicians moved in. By 1966 the neighborhood had psychedelic shops, free concerts in the park, a free clinic and a free food program run by the Diggers.
The Human Be-In in Golden Gate Park in January 1967 drew national attention, and that summer tens of thousands of young people arrived. The neighborhood could not cope: overcrowding, hard drugs and crime followed, and by the end of the decade many of the original residents had left. Over the following decades the Victorians were restored, and the Haight became the mix of history, shopping and street life you see today.
A walking route
- Start at Buena Vista Park at the eastern end, climbing to the top for a view over the city.
- Walk west along Haight Street, past murals, vintage stores and cafés.
- Stop at the corner of Haight and Ashbury.
- Detour up Ashbury Street to see the house where the Grateful Dead lived, and the Victorians on the side streets.
- Continue to Stanyan Street and the big record store at the end of Haight Street.
- Enter Golden Gate Park through Hippie Hill, where drum circles still gather on sunny days.
Shopping
Haight Street is known for vintage and secondhand clothing, from 1960s and 70s pieces to modern resale, plus record shops, bookstores, skate shops and stores selling tie-dye and posters. Prices vary widely; the best finds take time.
Practical tips
- Weekend afternoons are liveliest; weekday mornings are quiet.
- Keep an eye on your belongings and politely decline street sellers.
- The neighborhood connects naturally to Golden Gate Park and the Conservatory of Flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Haight worth visiting?
Yes, especially for the architecture, the history and vintage shopping, and as a gateway to the park.
How do I get there?
Several city buses run along Haight Street, and the Muni Metro N line stops nearby.
How long should I spend?
Two hours for the street and the side streets, more if you continue into the park.