The 1970s in San Francisco were flamboyant, alive, full of color and passion, marked by dark periods and electric highs. It was known worldwide for hippies and radicals. The city was heavily affected by drugs, prostitution and crime. Outcasts and the socially marginalized were attracted by a greater tolerance and acceptance of diverse cultures in the city. It grew as one of world's biggest centres for the LGBT community and LGBT rights.
To grow up in San Francisco in this era was extraordinary, and anyone who spent their early years here in the 1970s has vivid memories swirling around in the mind.
These amazing photos were taken by Dave Glass that show street scenes of San Francisco during the 1970s.
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| DuPont Market, Grant and Pacific, Chinatown San Francisco, 1970 |
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| DuPont Market, Grant and Pacific, Chinatown San Francisco, 1970 |
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| Grant Street grocery, Chinatown-North Beach district, San Francisco, 1970 |
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| Man trying on shoes at the Salvation Army store on Howard and 6th Street, San Francisco, 1970 |
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| Watch repairman, Polk Street, Tenderloin, San Francisco, 1970 |
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| A 1960 Cadillac Coupe Deville on 8th Avenue, Richmond district, San Francisco, 1974 |
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| Lakeside Liquors, Mission district, San Francisco, 1974 |
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| MUNI J-Church line streetcar, 21st Street, Mission district, San Francisco, 1974 |
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| Page Street near Fillmore, Lower Haight, San Francisco, 1974 |
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| San Francisco Municipal Railway, 1974 |
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| 8th Avenue, Richmond district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| 8th Avenue, Richmond district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| 1300 block McAllister Street, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| 1951 Chevrolet pickup truck, 8th Avenue, Richmond district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Bystanders at the Bicentennial parade, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, July 1976 |
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| MUNI J-Church line, PCC car no. 1018, Liberty Street, Mission district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| This building has been restored and now sits at 1720-1722 Fillmore near Sutter, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Valencia and 15th, Mission district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Western Addition, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Woodward and Duboce, Mission district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Woodward between 14th Street and Duboce, Mission district, San Francisco, 1976 |
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| Alabama Street, Mission district, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Annual Hare Krishna gathering, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Apartment building being moved to it's new location, Ellis and Divisadero, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Driver for Coast House Movers, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Ellis Street, between Scott and Divisidero, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Foreground is Mission Street near Fair, Bernal Heights district, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Laundromat attendant, Fulton and Divisadero, Western Addition district, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Market Street, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Mission district rainy afternoon, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Mission district, San Francisco, 1977 |
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| Baker's Market, Fulton and Baker Streets, Western Addition, San Francisco, 1978 |
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| Lakeside Liquors, 2188 Mission Street, Mission district, San Francisco, 1978 |
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| Looking west at 23rd and Hampshire in the Mission district during a winter rainstorm, San Francisco, 1978 |
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| Public housing projects, Turk Street, Western Addition district, San Francisco, 1978 |
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| Silverwing Cafe on Kearny Street, old International Hotel can be seen in the window reflection, 855 Kearny Street, Chinatown, San Francisco, 1978 |
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| Fell Street between Fillmore and Steiner, Western Addition district, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Fillmore Street, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Houses on 22nd Street between Church and Sanchez, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Intersection of Mission and 18th Street, Mission district, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Larry's Liquor, 201 Octavia Street, Western Addition district, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Market and Octavia, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Mural painting in progress on the side of the Keystone Korner, North Beach, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| People's Temple, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| Wash Dry 10 Cents Laundromat, 806 Divisadero Street, Western Addition district, San Francisco, 1979 |
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| World Motors, 18th and Valencia Streets, Mission district, San Francisco, 1979 |
