In 1973, a small group of historians from colleges and universities in the western United States decided to found the Western Society for French History. After an initial conference meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona, the first regular, annual autumn conference was held at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco in 1974.

This year, we mark the fiftieth anniversary of the WSFH with a conference in the city where it all began, and with a special celebration. Please join us Friday evening at 6:30 pm at China Live in Chinatown. We will meet for the Society’s presidential address, the Mission Prize Ceremony, and a retrospective presentation on the history of the WSFH. Food and drink will be served.  

San Francisco: A Visitor’s Guide

Neighborhoods

San Francisco is famously a city of neighborhoods (called “districts” locally), each with its own historic and cultural flair. The Parc 55 is in the Union Square district, traditionally the city’s shopping area, blending into the downtown financial district. Chinatown and North Beach, the traditionally Italian neighborhood, is an easy walk northwest of the hotel. The city’s Embarcadero, the waterfront walk along the Bay, is reachable on foot to the west. These districts are key to the city’s tourist industry and offer many food and shopping options.

Trendier neighborhoods, with more varied dining and shopping possibilities, include the Mission, Hayes Valley, Alamo Square, the Castro, the Marina, and, furthest afield, the Inner Richmond. All of these areas can be reached by car within ten to twenty minutes. San Francisco is globally recognized as a culinary capital: the food options are limitless, ranging from upscale Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall dives; the adventurous can find restaurants, diners, bars, and bakeries to feed any craving.

 San Francisco is generally a safe city that rewards walking with unexpected views and local discoveries. That said, like most American cities, there are some neighborhoods, including ones near the Parc 55, that are less safe, less appealing, and probably best visited by car rather than on foot. Just to the west and south of the hotel, the Tenderloin (including Lower Nob Hill and Little Saigon) and the area South of Market Street (sometimes called SOMA) are the neighborhoods most affected by drugs and homelessness. In general, guests at Parc 55 might want to limit their wandering to the areas east and north of the hotel, unless taking a taxi or ride sharing option.   

 Local Places of Interest

The Parc 55 Hotel is located within walking distance of some of San Francisco’s finest museums and most iconic places of interest.  The following can be reached on foot.

SFMOMA: The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art was the west coast’s first museum dedicated exclusively to Twentieth Century Art. Housed in an architecturally striking building, the museum excels in modern American and European painting and sculpture, as well as photography and video arts. Website.

MOAD: The Museum of African Diaspora presents temporary exhibitions of contemporary art celebrating Black cultures through the lens of the African Diaspora. Website.

ICA+SF: The Institute for Contemporary Art is the city’s newest arts venue, hosting temporary exhibitions that challenge boundaries and explore critical social and political questions. Website.

The Contemporary Jewish Museum: The CJM celebrates Jewish art and life through innovative exhibitions and programs. Website.

The SF Ferry Building: This late nineteenth-century building was completely renovated in 2003 and reimagined as a foodie’s dream, with a range of tasty shops, cafes, and restaurants. Offers excellent views of the Bay Bridge and is a good starting point for a walk along the city’s waterfront Embarcadero.   

City Lights Books: Founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, City Lights became famous as both a bookstore and the publisher of Beat poets, including Allen Ginsberg’s Howl and Other Poems (1956). It remains an excellent store for both world and San Francisco literature. Located between Chinatown and North Beach on 261 Columbus Ave., City Lights is also next door to Vesuvio Café, the preferred hang out of the Beat Generation. 

Cable Cars: A cable car (single ride: $8) can be picked up just steps from Parc 55 at the intersection of Powell and Market Streets. Serious cable car fans might also check out the Cable Car Museum on 1201 Mason Street. Website.

Coit Tower: Located on Telegraph Hill, near the northeast corner of the city, this art deco tower offers panoramic views of the city and bay. The interior also showcases a series of social realist murals painted in the 1930s under the New Deal’s Public Works of Art Project. As the tower is atop a steep hill, a taxi might be an advisable choice.

 Slightly Further Afield

While San Francisco is a compact and walkable city, some attractions are best reached by taxi or ride-sharing app. The more tech-savvy and adventurous might consider taking a Waymo, which has a fleet of self-driving, autonomous (in other words, driverless) cars. All of these locations are also accessible by public transit.

Golden Gate Bridge: No visit to San Francisco is complete without a trip to the world’s most iconic bridge. The best way to experience it is a walk across, along free pedestrian walkway, which is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The views of the Bay, the Pacific, the city, and – of course – the bridge itself are unrivaled. For outstanding views of the bridge along the shore, try a walk in Crissy Field, adjacent to the Marina District and the historic Presidio. 

Golden Gate Park: Covering over 1,000 acres, the park stretches from the Haight-Ashbury to the Pacific Ocean. A walker’s delight with lakes, fields, and gardens in a largely car-free area, the park also includes many points of interest like the Japanese Tea Gardens, the AIDS Memorial Grove, the Conservatory of Flowers, the California Academy of Sciences, and the De Young Museum of Art. Website.

The de Young Museum: Located in the heart of Golden Gate Park, the de Young houses an excellent and diverse collection of American, African, and Oceanic art. The de Young also has a tower (admission is free) that offers sweeping views over the entire city, from the Pacific to the Berkeley Hills. Website.

The Legion of Honor: Site of the first WSFH conference, the museum has an extensive collection of European art. The museum reflects a strong French influence, immediately evident in the French neoclassical architecture, and the presence of Rodin’s The Thinker and an equestrian statue of Jeanne d’Arc. Website.

The GLBT Historical Society Museum: In the heart of the Castro District, this was the first stand-alone museum in the United States of LGBTQ history and culture. In addition to a permanent exhibit on queer history, the museum also offers rotating temporary shows. Website.