Castro Camera facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castro Camera |
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Castro Camera storefront, as recreated for the 2008 film Milk
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| General information | |
| Address | 575 Castro Street |
| Town or city | Castro District, San Francisco, California |
| Country | United States of America |
| Construction started | 1972 |
Castro Camera was a camera shop in the Castro District of San Francisco, California. Harvey Milk owned and ran the store from 1972 until 1978. During the 1970s, the shop became a very important place for the neighborhood's growing community. It also served as the main office for Milk's campaigns when he ran for public office.
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The Story of Castro Camera
Harvey Milk loved photography. He decided to open Castro Camera in 1972 with his partner, Scott Smith. They used their last $1,000 to start the business.
The store quickly became a popular spot. Many young people came to the Castro neighborhood from all over the US. They found a welcoming place there.
A Community Hub
Castro Camera was more than just a place to buy cameras and film. Milk made it a social center. It was a safe place for new people arriving in the city. He even made it an official place where people could vote in San Francisco elections.
Milk was well-known for helping local businesses and people in the community. Because of this, many people unofficially called him the "Mayor of Castro Street."
People Who Met Harvey Milk at the Store
Many important people met Harvey Milk at Castro Camera.
- Daniel Nicoletta, a famous photographer, first visited the store as a customer. He later worked there helping with the shop and Milk's campaigns.
- Anne Kronenberg, who later managed Milk's campaigns, also met him at the store.
- Other close friends and helpers, like Cleve Jones and his speechwriter Frank Robinson, also met and worked with Milk at the shop.
After the Store Closed
The building at 575 Castro Street has changed over the years. As of 2011, it was a Human Rights Campaign Store. In July 2022, an art gallery and events space called Queer Arts Featured opened there.
Castro Camera in the Movies
The store's location was rebuilt as a movie set for Milk. This film was a movie about Milk's life. The movie set was carefully made to look just like the original store. It even had an old red couch and a barber's chair. Many local people who remembered the real store were interested in seeing the recreated set.
Remembering Harvey Milk
There is a metal plaque on the sidewalk in front of the store. It remembers Harvey Milk. This spot is often the starting point for an annual march. The march takes place on the date of his passing.
Store Items in a Museum
Some items from Castro Camera are kept safe at the GLBT Historical Society. This is a museum and research center in San Francisco. These items include Milk's barber chair and a collection of old cameras. The front sign of the shop is also there.
The society showed the camera collection in an exhibit in 2003. It was called "Saint Harvey: The Life of a Modern Leader." The art director for the movie Milk even looked at this collection. This helped them create the movie set to look just like the real Castro Camera.
See also
In Spanish: Castro Camera para niños
