In American architecture, painted ladies are Victorian and Edwardian houses and buildings painted in three or more colors that embellish or enhance their architectural details. The term was first used for San Francisco Victorian houses by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book Painted Ladies - San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians.
Nearly 514 blocks of San Francisco, including much of Knob Hill and Van Ness Avenue, were
destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Many beautiful examples of 19th century Victorian architecture were lost in the disaster.
Today, some 14,000 Victorians have been preserved west of Van Ness Avenue in the Cow Hollow,
Pacific Heights and Alamo Square neighborhoods.
Postcard Row is possibly the most photographed spot in the city.
These colorful Victorian houses or painted ladies, with the San Francisco skyline in
the background, have graced many postcards and movie scenes.
Capture the view from the center of the park on the edge of Alamo Square at Steiner and
Hayes Streets.
Distinguished by their architectural features, the three styles of Victorians include the
Italianate, the Stick, and the Queen Anne.
The Italianate, which flourished in the 1870s, is identified by slim pillars flanking the
front door and bays with side windows that slant inward.
These narrow row houses were inspired by classical Roman ornamentation.
The Stick, which peaked in popularity during the 1880s, added ornate woodwork outlines
to the Italianate design in the decoration of the doors, frames, and bay windows.
Designs changed dramatically with the Queen Anne Victorians by 1890.
Turrets, towers, a steep and gabled roof, arches, spindles, glass-art windows, and sections
of shingle siding distinguish the Queen Anne from her predecessors.
The Painted Ladies is a term used for the houses that ring Alamo Square.
The buildings are painted in three or more colors that embellish or enhance their architectural
details and are perfectly lined in escalating formation.
Van Ness Avenue, the widest street in the city, is home to San Francisco's city government.
The spectacular Beaux-Arts-style City Hall is a model of grandeur, though it is actually
a 1915 replica of the original, which was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
It is topped by a dome taller than that of the United States Capitol and the fifth largest
in the world.
San Francisco is famous for its hills, and at least 43 of them have names.
Knob Hill is one of San Francisco's signature neighborhoods, renowned for its city landmarks
and the famous hotels at Border Huntington Park.
For those who explore further, it also reveals unexpected facets.
In addition to its swanky character, the area is influenced by the diverse personalities
of the downtown neighborhoods that surround it, making it an interesting place to visit.
The area's reputation of privilege dates back to gold rush times, when cable car lines made
the hilltop accessible, and the railroad barons and bonanza kings built their mansions there,
far above the rowdiness of the bawdy waterfront.
Luxury hotels now stand in the place of those original palaces, and after a hike to the
top of the hill, the sight of these historic buildings is undeniably impressive.
Lush cascades of bougainvillea and then gentile apartment buildings with their wedding cake
facades add to Knob Hill's charm and elegance.
The hill is dotted with vintage barbershops, old corner coffee shops, and cocktail lounges
from bygone decades.
Knob Hill has also been home to some iconic characters from San Francisco's history.
