Pacific Heights, San Francisco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pacific Heights
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San Francisco Bay as viewed from Fillmore Street, between Broadway and Vallejo.
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 Pacific Heights
Location in San Francisco
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| City-county | San Francisco |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.967 sq mi (2.50 km2) |
| • Land | 0.967 sq mi (2.50 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 21,925 |
| • Density | 22,677/sq mi (8,756/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
94109, 94115, 94123
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| Area codes | 415/628 |
Pacific Heights, often called Pac Heights, is a beautiful neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is famous for its amazing views. From here, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay, the Palace of Fine Arts, Alcatraz Island, and the Presidio.
The neighborhood stretches from Union Street to Bush Street. It also goes from Van Ness Avenue to Presidio Avenue. Pacific Heights sits on a high ridge. This ridge rises sharply from the Marina District to the north. It reaches a height of about 370 feet (113 meters) above sea level.
Pacific Heights has two lovely parks. These are Lafayette Park and Alta Plaza. Looking north, you can see the Marin Headlands and Alcatraz Island. To the south, you can spot Twin Peaks and the Sutro Tower.
This neighborhood is known for being one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. It has been one of the top ten most expensive neighborhoods in San Francisco for many years.
The area south of California Street, down to Post Street, is sometimes called Lower Pacific Heights. This part used to be considered part of the Western Addition neighborhood. However, real estate agents started using the new name in the early 1990s.
Contents
History of Pacific Heights
Pacific Heights was first developed in the 1870s. At that time, small Victorian-style homes were built. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and around the early 1900s, many of these homes were replaced. Newer, grander houses were constructed. Today, the area is still mostly residential. It is known for its beautiful painted Victorian architecture.
What to See and Do
The oldest building in Pacific Heights is the Leale House. It is located at 2475 Pacific Avenue and was built in 1853. However, most of the neighborhood was built after the 1906 earthquake. The buildings here show many different styles. You can see Victorian, Mission Revival, Edwardian, and Château styles.
Many countries have their consulates in Pacific Heights. A consulate is like a small embassy. It helps citizens of that country who are visiting or living in San Francisco. Countries with consulates here include Italy, Greece, Vietnam, South Korea, China, and Germany.
Most of the neighborhood's shops and restaurants are on Fillmore Street. This street is south of Pacific Avenue. Other businesses can be found on California Street and Divisadero Street. There are also shops and services on Van Ness Avenue.
Pacific Heights is home to several schools. These include the San Francisco University High School, Drew School, and the Hamlin School. Other schools are Convent of the Sacred Heart High School, Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Waldorf School, Academy of Thought and Industry, and Town School for Boys. Grant Elementary School was open on Pacific Avenue from 1922 to 1972. Its students included children of diplomats and military families. Today, Hillwood Academic Day School is an elementary school here, opened in 1949.
Fun Events in Pac Heights
Pac Heights has hosted many exciting events. Some happen every year, while others were special one-time occasions.
- The annual Fillmore Jazz Festival is a popular event.
- A unique ski jump event once took place at Broadway and Fillmore. It featured an artificial snow jump. This event was hosted by Jonny Moseley, a famous skier, and the Norwegian Consulate of San Francisco.
Famous People Who Live Here
Many well-known people have lived in Pacific Heights. Some of them include:
- Larry Ellison: He co-founded Oracle Corporation, a big technology company.
- Gordon Getty: A billionaire businessman and composer.
- Ann Getty: Known for her work in philanthropy, publishing, and anthropology.
- Jonathan Ive: The former chief designer at Apple Inc..
- Jay Paul: A billionaire who develops real estate.
- Nancy Pelosi: A very important politician who was the former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Her husband, Paul Pelosi, also lives here.
- Danielle Steel: A very popular author.
- Peter Thiel: He helped start PayPal, an online payment company.
Gallery
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The C. A. Belden House on Gough Street shows Queen Anne and Beaux Arts styles. It is a historic building.
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Consulate-General of Russia in San Francisco
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A typical house entrance in Pacific Heights.
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This house was used in the movie Mrs. Doubtfire. This photo was taken after Robin Williams passed away, showing a tribute from fans.
See also
In Spanish: Pacific Heights (San Francisco) para niños
