The history of San Francisco can be seen on the names of its streets and historic sites, many names and events throughout the modern history of the city are marked with street signs and banners.
One can find the names of explorers, rulers, sailors, gold miners, and businessmen in many of the city’s famous sites.
Despite that, the presence of women that shaped San Francisco is slim to none. The contribution of women to the city can be seen in the following sites (unfortunately, this list is currently pretty short):
Ruth Asawa’s San Francisco Fountain, sculptured by Ruth Asawa, the artworks by Ester Hernandez, a famous visual artist, Barbara McCarren and Jud Fine interactive sculpture in the zoo, and Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher, who created the amazing Mosaic Steps on 16th Avenue & Moraga Street.
While 84 statues of historical men adorn the public space, only three public statues honoring real women:
Dianne Feinstein, who was a Senator and the city’s Mayor, Florence Nightingale, who was a nurse, and the artist Georgia O’Keeffe.
Besides those, female legacy is perpetuated in two other locations:
at Jane Warner Plaza, to honor Patrol Special Police Officer Jane Ellen Warner, and at Saint Mary’s public park.
Less than 20 miles north of SF, is Rosie the Riveter Memorial, honoring American Women’s Labor During WW2.
We invite you to search through our map to see the information we gathered about the legacy of women in the area you are wandering. Click here to learn about some of the women who left a mark on SF history.
