West Portal - Western Neighborhoods Project - San Francisco History

Western Neighborhoods Project is dedicated to the history of San Francisco's Richmond, Sunset, OMI and West of Twin Peaks districts. read more ...

West Portal

West Portal Avenue 1927, 1927 -

Developed: 1910s and 1920s, carved out of the old Rancho San Miguel land grant.

Primary developer: Fernando Nelson and Sons

Streetcar portal to the West of Twin Peaks section of San Francisco, West Portal acted as the staging area for the construction of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. The best way to learn more about the neighborhood's history and role in the growth of western San Francisco is to click through our virtual West Portal History Walk.

West Portal Park Map - 1916

West Portal Articles

Podcast # 130: West Portal
The story of West Portal, the neighborhood and the avenue. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Jul 12, 2015)
Podcast # 159: Twin Peaks Tunnel
The story of the Municipal Railway streetcar tunnel that opened up the West of Twin Peaks neighborhoods. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Feb 7, 2016)
Podcast # 194: Sloat Boulevard
From the zoo to St. Francis Circle, stories about San Francisco's widest (maybe) street. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Oct 16, 2016)
Podcast # 201: 100 Years of St. Cecilia Catholic Parish
Guest Frank Dunnigan talks about the first century of a Parkside District parish. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Dec 1, 2016)
Podcast # 239: Arden Wood
The Christian Science institution built in the trees at the end of West Portal Avenue in 1930. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Aug 26, 2017)
Podcast # 262: Opening the Twin Peaks Tunnel
Recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the streetcar tunnel that opened up the southwest side of San Francisco. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Feb 3, 2018)
Podcast # 287: Charlotte Estes
A mysterious monument in a city park. Who was Charlotte Estes? (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Aug 4, 2018)
Podcast # 296: Rancho San Miguel
A Mexican land grant from 1845 still reverberates on San Francisco's west side 173 years later. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Oct 6, 2018)
Podcast # 356: Nineteenth Ave and Sloat Blvd
The proximity of Nineteenth Avenue and Sloat Boulevard is teeming with history: Stern Grove, the Trocadero, Ardenwood, and the Scottish Rite Temple are just a few of the highlights discussed. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Dec 14, 2019)
Podcast # 416: Levin Family Theatres
The neighborhoods of the West Side would not be the same without their local movie theatre and we have the Levin Family to thank for them, from the Alexandria to the Coliseum to the beloved Balboa and many more... Nicole, Arnold & David tell the story of this arts-devoted family. Plus an all-star live audience Listener Mail. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Feb 6, 2021)
Podcast # 477: Lloyd Kahn
Special guest and author Lloyd Kahn joins the podcast this week to talk about growing up in West Portal. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Oct 14, 2022)
Podcast # 486: 18th Avenue Christmas
One block in the Sunset used to go all out for the holidays. Nicole & Arnold talk with Frank Dunnigan about the 18th Avenue Christmas. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Dec 24, 2022)
Podcast # 493: 41-47 West Portal Avenue
41-47 West Portal Avenue had bakeries, delis, hairdressers, toy shops, candy shops, and realtors over the years. Nicole & Arnold take a look at the building's history. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Feb 25, 2023)
Podcast # 9: West Portal Creek
Hidden creek near San Francisco's West Portal neighborhood and other secret water sites. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Mar 8, 2013)
A Short History of West of Twin Peaks
Residence parks and other neighborhoods in San Francisco's West of Twin Peaks area. ( Jan 1, 2006)
Arden Wood
The First Church of Christ, Scientist selected the plot of land in the newly-developed West Portal neighborhood for its west coast nursing facility in the 1920s. ( Jan 1, 2006)
Artifact Discovery
A piece of Playland history found in West Portal (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)
Fernando Nelson
Builder of West Portal, Parkway Terrace, and Merced Manor ( Jan 1, 2005)
Mystery Dividing Line
Funny shaped buildings in West Portal mark a link to San Francisco's Mexican era (SF West History Minute Apr 29, 2011)
Riding Home with Willie Mays
Tom O'Toole remembers the day he was the luckiest kid in San Francisco. ( Jun 24, 2009)
Savano Luggage
A West Portal Family Business: Savano's Luggage ( Aug 18, 2011)
St. Cecilia’s Parish
History and memories of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in the Parkside District. ( Jan 26, 2009)
Streetwise - Dad & Bill's Night Out
Memories of the 1950s fight against the Western Freeway. ( Jan 28, 2009)
Streetwise - Making Spirits Bright
Remembering 18th Avenue's holiday lighting tradition ( Dec 1, 2013)
Streetwise - Up & Down West Portal
A walk on West Portal Avenue is a walk down Memory Lane. ( Mar 1, 2009)
Streetwise: A Look Back to 1923 in the Western Neighborhoods
Frank Dunnigan looks back 100 years at what was happening in the remarkable year of 1923. ( Jan 14, 2023)
Streetwise: Changing School Enrollments
West side schools are ever changing. Frank Dunnigan looks at the past and present of education in the Outside Lands. ( Feb 12, 2022)
Streetwise: Changing Westside Businesses
Frank Dunnigan looks at the evolving west side business landscape over the years. ( Oct 14, 2022)
Streetwise: December Celebrations in the Outside Lands
Frank Dunnigan remembers the west side December traditions of the past. ( Dec 8, 2022)
Streetwise: Remembering School Days in the Outside Lands
School is back in session, so Frank Dunnigan is remembering the good old school days. ( Sep 10, 2022)
Streetwise: Signs of the Times
Frank Dunnigan checks out some of the iconic signage of the western neighborhoods. ( Apr 14, 2023)
Streetwise: Stormy Weather in the Western Neighborhoods
Revisit rainy days on the west side. ( Mar 9, 2023)
Streetwise: Thanksgiving Memories in the Outside Lands
Frank Dunnigan looks back at the years of Thanksgiving traditions in the Outside Lands in this month's Streetwise column. ( Nov 11, 2022)
Streetwise: West Side Businesses
Small, family-run businesses give our neighborhoods their unique flavor. Frank takes a subjective look at a few of the places that helped shape our west side communities, some that are still going strong. ( May 5, 2021)
Streetwise: West Side Murals and Mosaics
Art can be found in many unexpected places in the Outside Lands. Frank Dunnigan looks at some of the great murals and mosaics that are or were found here. ( May 13, 2022)
Streetwise: Western Neighborhoods Landmarks
Frank Dunnigan shares west side landmarks famous enough to know by one-word names. ( Feb 10, 2023)
Streetwise: Western Neighborhoods Under Construction
The Outside Lands were developed over a long period of time. Frank Dunnigan takes us through a tour of some of these developments. ( Apr 9, 2022)
Streetwise: When I'm 64
Returning to St. Cecilia School for 50th eighth grade class reunion. ( Nov 3, 2016)
Twin Peaks Tunnel
The Twin Peaks Tunnel connected downtown with the west side in 1918 (SF West History Minute Aug 18, 2009)
West Portal
Streetcar portal to the West of Twin Peaks section of San Francisco, West Portal acted as the staging area for the construction of the Twin Peaks Tunnel. ( Jan 1, 2006)
West Portal Creamery
118 West Portal Avenue ( Jan 1, 2006)
West Portal Elementary School
Class photos, history, and memories ( Jan 1, 2006)
West Portal History Walk
An historic tour of West Portal Avenue, 15 Web pages of historic photos and text! ( Jan 1, 2006)
West Portal History Walk: Empire Theatre
The Empire opened as the Portal Theatre at 85 West Portal Avenue in 1925. ( Apr 16, 2014)
Westward the Course of Empire Takes its Way
100 Years of the Twin Peaks Tunnel ( Feb 3, 2018)

Image: Detail of map from San Francisco Chronicle article, Saturday, October 14, 1916.

Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places!

Page launched 13 May 2002; Updated 26 Jaunary 2009.

Related Content

Fernando Nelson
Builder of West Portal, Parkway Terrace, and Merced Manor ( Jan 1, 2005)
A Short History of West of Twin Peaks
Residence parks and other neighborhoods in San Francisco's West of Twin Peaks area. ( Jan 1, 2006)
St. Cecilia’s Parish
History and memories of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church in the Parkside District. ( Jan 26, 2009)
Streetwise - Dad & Bill's Night Out
Memories of the 1950s fight against the Western Freeway. ( Jan 28, 2009)
Streetwise - Up & Down West Portal
A walk on West Portal Avenue is a walk down Memory Lane. ( Mar 1, 2009)
Riding Home with Willie Mays
Tom O'Toole remembers the day he was the luckiest kid in San Francisco. ( Jun 24, 2009)
Twin Peaks Tunnel
The Twin Peaks Tunnel connected downtown with the west side in 1918 (SF West History Minute Aug 18, 2009)
Artifact Discovery
A piece of Playland history found in West Portal (SF West History Minute Nov 29, 2010)
Mystery Dividing Line
Funny shaped buildings in West Portal mark a link to San Francisco's Mexican era (SF West History Minute Apr 29, 2011)
Savano Luggage
A West Portal Family Business: Savano's Luggage ( Aug 18, 2011)

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