If you've ever wondered what the Tenderloin looked like at the turn of the century, we have a little sneak peek. Thanks to the prolific photo archives of the SFMTA we dug up some old photos produced from glass-plate negatives at the turn of the century. Here's what Larkin, Turk, McAllister and Ellis looked like, from 1909 to 1920, compared with some shots of modern times.
Larkin Street and Geary Street | January 7, 1920
Larkin Street and Geary Street | May 28, 2015
Larkin Street Between Ellis Street and Eddy Street | March 30, 1920
Larkin Street Between Ellis Street and Eddy Street | May 28, 2015
Turk Street Between Polk Street and Larkin Street | November 25, 1914
Turk Street Between Polk Street and Larkin Street | May 28, 2015
McAllister Street and Larkin Street | February 13, 1920
McAllister Street and Larkin Street | May 28, 2015
McAllister Street and Leavenworth Street | February 6, 1915
McAllister Street and Leavenworth Street May 28, 2015
Ellis Street East from Mason Street | April 19, 1909
Ellis Street East from Mason Street | May 18, 2015
Next time you take a walk around the Tenderloin look up—old and new exists hand in hand in this historic neighborhood.