Western Addition & Fillmore

The Fillmore jazz district, the Fillmore auditorium and Cathedral Hill.

The San Francisco Public Library describes the Fillmore of the 1940s and 50s as a twenty-block stretch with more than a dozen nightclubs where many African American musicians performed, and one of the few areas where people of color could go out for entertainment. That era is remembered as the Harlem of the West. The Fillmore music venue at 1805 Geary Boulevard still hosts concerts today, at the corner of Geary and Fillmore.

The Western Addition Branch Library at 1550 Scott Street reflects the neighborhood’s history, with a Japanese-language collection for children and adults and a Black Interest Collection. To get around, the 22 Fillmore bus runs along Fillmore Street, stopping at Geary Boulevard, and goes to the Marina in one direction and Mission Bay and UCSF in the other. The 5 Fulton runs along McAllister Street, with stops at Fillmore Street, and connects the neighborhood with Civic Center at Hyde Street.

Sources: SFPL, Harlem of the West, The Fillmore, SFPL Western Addition, SFMTA 22 Fillmore, SFMTA 5 Fulton.