San Francisco in the 1970s was a global hub of culture. It was known worldwide for hippies and radicals. The city was heavily affected by drugs, prostitution and crime. Outcasts and the socially marginalized were attracted by a greater tolerance and acceptance of diverse cultures in the city.
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| San Francisco in 1970 and 1971 |
The city grew as one of world’s biggest centres for the LGBT community and LGBT rights. The rock music known as the San Francisco Sound was performed live and recorded by San Francisco-based rock groups of the mid-1960s to early 1970s. It was associated with the counterculture community in the city at the time.
Many skyscrapers were built in the city during this period. The city is also associated with West Coast jazz and was one of the major centers of jazz fusion which took off in the 1970s.
These amazing color photos were taken by Christopher Cirrincione that show street scenes of San Francisco in 1970 and 1971.
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| Powell-Mason cable car route on the Taylor Street turntable at Bay Street, 1970 |
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| California Street cable car route. View northeast on California Street between Kearny Street and Grant Avenue, 1970 |
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| PCC heading downtown on Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street on a foggy early evening, 1970 |
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| PCC heading downtown on Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street on a foggy early evening, 1970 |
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| Church Street at Market Street on the J-Line looking east, 1971 |
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| Market Street at 3rd Street_Geary Street looking northeast, 1971 |
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| Market Street at 3rd Street/Geary Street looking southwest, 1971 |
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| Market Street at 3rd Street/Geary Street looking southwest, 1971 |
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| Market Street at 5th Street/Eddy Street/Powell Street looking east, 1971 |
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| Market Street at Sanchez Street/15th Street in early evening |
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| Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street, 1971 |
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| Night view of Market Street at 3rd Street/Geary Street looking northeast, 1971 |
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| PCC heading downtown on Market Street approaching Sanchez Street/15th Street, 1971 |
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| PCC heading downtown on Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street, 1971 |
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| PCC heading southwest on Market Street at 3rd Street/Geary Street looking northeast, 1971 |
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| PCC on Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street, 1971 |
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| PCC on Market Street between Noe Street/16th Street and Sanchez Street/15th Street, 1971 |
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| PCC on the J-Line about to pass under the pedestrain walkway in Dolores Park at 19th Street looking north with Church Street in the middle background, 1971 |
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| PCC on the J-Line about to pass under the pedestrain walkway in Dolores Park at 19th Street looking north, 1971 |
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| PCC on Wawona Street at the end of the L-Line looking northwest, 1971 |
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| Powell Street at the end-of-line turntable at Market Street, 1971 |
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| Powell-Hyde cable car route. View east on Lombard Street at Hyde Street, 1971 |
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| Powell-Hyde cable car route. View south on Hyde Street at Lombard Street, 1971 |
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| Powell-Hyde cable car route. View south on Hyde Street from Lombard Street, 1971 |
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| Powell-Hyde cable car route. View southeast on Hyde Street at Lombard Street, 1971 |
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| View north on Powell Street between Bush Street and Sutter Street, 1971 |
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| View north on Powell Street just north of Market Street, 1971. |
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| View north on Powell Street just north of Market Street, 1971 |
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| Wawona Street at the end of the L-Line looking east, 1971 |
