The words Haight-Ashbury conjure a magical musical time for those dialed in to that subculture. Indeed, that neighborhood of San Francisco, CA essentially birthed the counterculture movement. Thousands of peaceful protestors found their way to San Fran, hitchhiking across the country in search of a better tomorrow. While the area still preserves the legacy of that movement, the city of San Francisco is apparently taking things a step further.
According to SocketSite, the famed district will join some of San Fran’s historic areas as one of the city’s Landmark Districts. The city documents say the following about the decision to bestow the honor on Haight-Ashbury.
The district is significant for its association with the events of the counter-culture movement, when this area of San Francisco served as the nation’s epicenter for “hippies” and their anti-establishment lifestyles, which included psychedelic drugs, rock music, free love, and an anti-war ethos.
Defined by the Summer of Love in 1967, the period of significance for social associations could span through c.1960-c.1970. Architectural significance would extend from the c. 1880s to c.1970 and would be due to the high concentration of intact Victorian-era architecture, including original storefronts spanning many decades and many extant counter-culture-era alterations to the district.
Considering some of the greatest rock music was born from the Haight-Ashbury in the 60’s, including the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Santana and more, the cultural value of the district certainly earns its spot among the landmark districts of the city. By making the city a landmark district, this also opens the door for Haight-Ashbury to be included in the National Register of Historic Places. Exciting!