Mission District, San Francisco

The Mission District (Spanish: Distrito de la Misión), commonly known as the Mission (Spanish: La Misión), is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city. The area gets its name from Mission San Francisco de Asís, which was built in 1776 by the Spanish.

Today, the Mission District is well known for being a important center for the city's Hispanic community. It is a place rich in culture and history, making it a special part of San Francisco.

History

Indigenous period

Before Spanish missionaries arrived, the area now known as the Mission District was home to the Ohlone people. The Yelamu tribe, who spoke the Ramaytush language, lived in this region for over 2,000 years. Spanish missionaries came to the area in the late 1700s and found these people living in two villages along Mission Creek.

Spanish period

In 1776, a Spanish priest named Father Francisco Palóu founded Mission San Francisco de Asís. The mission was moved to its current location in 1783. Franciscan friars used Ohlone people to help build the mission, which changed their way of life forever. The number of Ohlone people dropped sharply from 400 to just 50 between 1833 and 1841.

Mexican period

During Mexican rule, the area around the mission became a place for fun activities like bull and bear fights, horse racing, and baseball. A popular spot called The Willows was a beer parlor located along Mission Creek.

Early American period

After the Gold Rush, many immigrants from Germany, Ireland, and Italy moved to the Mission District and built homes there. The district also became a place for sports, with early baseball stadiums like Recreation Grounds and later Recreation Park and Seals Stadium.

Earthquake and population shifts

Main article: 1906 San Francisco earthquake

Many people moved to the Mission District after the 1906 earthquake, making Mission Street a busy area. In 1926, the Polish community opened the Polish Club of San Francisco, known today as the Dom Polski. During the 1940s to 1960s, many Mexican immigrants settled in the area, changing its character.

1970s–1990s

In the 1970s and 1980s, the Valencia Street area became a lively place for music and culture, with many punk bands and clubs. During the 1980s and 1990s, more immigrants from Central America, South America, the Middle East, and other places moved to the Mission District.

1990s–present

In the late 1990s and 2000s, many young professionals moved into the area, which caused rent and housing prices to go up. Even with these changes, the Mission District remains an important center for Mexican and other Latin American communities. While the number of Latino residents has decreased, the area still holds cultural significance for these groups.

Geography

The Mission District is found in the middle-east part of San Francisco. It is next to U.S. Route 101, which separates the area called "Inner Mission" from the neighborhood Potrero Hill. Streets like Sanchez divide the Mission from Eureka Valley and Noe Valley. The main street here is Mission Street, which leads south to areas like the Excelsior and Crocker-Amazon.

The Mission tends to be warmer and sunnier than other parts of the city because it stays away from the cool fog and wind that come from the west. This makes the weather feel different just by moving a short distance across the city. The area includes popular spots like Dolores Park and busy streets full of restaurants and shops.

Culture

Mission Dolores, a historic mission turned museum, and a larger basilica built in 1918 are both located in the neighborhood. Dolores Park is the largest park in the area and very popular among locals. Nearby is Mission High School, built in 1927.

The Mission District is well-known for its tasty food, especially Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Nicaraguan cuisine. You can find many street vendors and restaurants, including famous spots like La Taqueria and Papalote. The neighborhood is also home to the famous Mission burrito.

The area has a rich arts scene with many Latino artists and cultural groups. The Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts and Galería de la Raza are just a couple of the places where you can see art and learn about the community’s history. Every year, the Carnaval festival brings music and dancing to Mission Street.

Music is also a big part of the Mission District. Mariachi bands play in restaurants, and famous musicians like Carlos Santana grew up here. You can hear many types of music, from classical at the Community Music Center to hip-hop and reggae at local parties.

The Mission District hosts many fun events throughout the year. Carnaval in May is the biggest celebration, but there are also street fairs, food festivals, and art walks. Each year, people gather to honor Cesar Chavez and celebrate Day of the Dead.

Media

The Mission District has three free newspapers that are printed in both English and Spanish. El Tecolote comes out every two weeks and also has articles online. Mission Local is mostly an online news site but also prints a paper twice a year. El Reportero is a weekly newspaper with an online site as well.

Education

The San Francisco Unified School District runs public schools in the Mission District. Some of these schools include John O'Connell High School, Buena Vista Horace Mann K-8 Community School, Bryant Elementary School, César Chávez Elementary School, and others.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco runs St. Peter's Catholic School, which opened in 1878. Over time, most students came to be from Latino families. The number of students at the school has changed over the years.

Transit

The Mission District has several ways to get around. You can take the BART train to stations on Mission Street at 16th Street and 24th Street. There are also many Muni buses, including numbers 9, 9R, 12, 14, 14R, 22, 27, 33, 48, 49, and 67. Along the western edge, the J Church Muni Metro line runs down Church Street and San Jose Avenue.

Notable residents

• Benjamin Bratt (born 1963), actor, film producer
• Peter Bratt (born 1962), film director, producer
• Craig Baldwin (born 1952), experimental filmmaker
• Chuy Campusano (1944–1997), Chicano muralist
• Rolando Castellón (born 1937), painter, author, art historian, and curator.
• Laurie Toby Edison (born 1942), photographer
• Rupert García (born 1941), artist and professor
• Ricardo Gouveia (born 1966), also known as "Rigo 23", painter, sculptor, and muralist
• Jay Howell (born 1979), illustrator, animator, cartoonist, and artist
• David Ireland (1930–2009), sculptor, installation artist, co-founder of Capp Street Project
• Chris Johanson (born 1968), painter, muralist and street artist
• Margaret Kilgallen (1967–2001), painter, printmaker, and graffiti artist
• Lil Tuffy, poster art, serigraph printmaker and designer
• Carlos Loarca (born 1939), painter, muralist
• Yolanda López (1942–2021), painter, printmaker, educator, and film producer.
• Ralph Maradiaga (1934–1985), artist, curator, photographer, printmaker, teacher, and filmmaker
• Barry McGee (born 1966), also known as "Twist", painter and graffiti artist
• Ruby Neri (born 1970), painter, sculptor, and graffiti artist
• Sirron Norris, illustrator, and muralist
• Rex Ray (1956–2015), graphic designer and collage artist
• Peter Rodríguez (1926–2016), artist, curator, and museum director; founder of the Mexican Museum
• Spain Rodriguez (1940–2002), underground cartoonist.
• Adam Savage (born 1967), television personality, model maker, designer, fabricator
• Dori Seda (1951–1988), cartoonist, painter
• Xavier Viramontes (born 1947), printmaker
• Scott Williams (born 1956) stencil artist, muralist
• Megan Wilson, conceptual, installation, and muralist
• René Yañez (1942–2018), painter, assemblage artist, performance artist, curator and community activist.