Tenderloin: Then & Now In Photos

Tenderloin: Then & Now In PhotosEllis and Mason streets, 1909. Photos: SFMTA
Nuala Sawyer
Published on June 02, 2015

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.