Bernal History Project
Honoring the history of San Francisco's Bernal Heights and supporting the preservation
of its architectural heritage and character

Bernal in the Spotlight

Interesting recent stories on Bernal-related subjects

Longtime Andover Street resident Gabriella West is the Examiner's Bernal Heights correspondent. View her regular column.

While the Bernal branch library was closed for renovation, the librarians kept a blog on its progress.

BHP member Tony Galomorro has kindly shared then-and-now photos of various Bernal spots from the 1970s. See the Beatles House, lots of Coleridge Victorians, and many more changes.

Tony has also taken more photos of contemporary Bernal including stairways, parks, and more. Anyone know more about the Sugar Shack on Peralta?

In Memoriam

Visit our Obituaries page to read about some former Bernal residents.

2009

In September, BHP's Tim Holland was interviewed by Steven Short for the Crosscurrents radio program. (The BHP section is about 20 minutes into the 30-minute podcast.)

Kaleene Kenning, the Examiner's San Francisco architecture and design columnist, reviewed our June 2009 presentation for the San Francisco History Association.

Carl Nolte's June 21 Native Son column was about Bernal and BHP!

Rose Cliver (nee Wyrsch) was living at 527 Gates Street when the 1906 earthquake struck. Read another interview with Rose in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat and Carl Nolte's Chronicle report from the April 18, 2009, earthquake celebrations.

Edward Mitchell was a renowned postcard publisher of the early 20th century, based at 3363 Army Street. Did his oversize-fruit cards inspire the Allman Brothers?

A Noe Valley Voice article from 2003 tells the history of the building at 3434 Mission Street.

The Charles W. Cushman Photo Collection in the Indiana University Archives contains some photos of Bernal. Cushman was an amateur photographer who took many pictures of San Francisco neighborhoods. See Bernal Hill from South Van Ness in 1953, a city view from Bernal Heights Boulevard, and Bernal seen from Twin Peaks in 1961.

In 2007, Charles Hodgkins of SFist.com visited the 400 block of Cortland.

Bernal artist Teri Claude's Bernal Hill Project blog records the items her rabbit, Dusty, unearthed from her backyard.

Jenni Olson's blog on St. Mary's Park has some interesting images and a history of the neighborhood.

Have you seen Bernal Heights in a movie or television show? Has Bernal Heights been mentioned in a book you've read? It's not unlikely -- this is a very creative neighborhood. Let us know!

Movies

Around the Fire (1998)
The interior of a Bernal home was used for a doctor's place in this coming-of-age drama directed by John Jacobsen and starring Devon Sawa, Bill Smitrovich, and Eric Mabius.

Bernaltown (1997)
A sweet neighborhood fable filmed entirely in Bernal Heights and starring neighborhood folks (written, directed, and produced by Gregory Gavin, a San Francisco artist). You can rent the video at the Bernal branch of the San Francisco Public Library.

Bolerium (2005)
This short documentary by Bernal resident Keary Kensinger looks at the Mission Street bookstore Bolerium, which specializes in rare and out-of-print books, posters, and ephemera on social movements.

Bullitt (1968)
The famous Steve McQueen car chase starts on the border of Bernal Heights at Cesar Chavez and Bryant with a shot of the hill in the background.

Fearless (1993)
Jeff Bridges stars in this movie about a man who survives a plane crash and begins to believe he is immune from danger. Also starring Isabella Rossellini. Directed by Peter Weir.

Humans Being (2003)
Independent film shot around Bernal Heights and in the interior of the home at 334 Park Street. The film's creator, Ken Shelf, is also a Bernal Heights resident.

Joy Luck Club (1993)
The house at 180 Manchester Street was the home of chic, successful Waverly Jong in this movie adaptation of Amy Tan's best-selling novel. (Incidentally, the name Waverly came from the name of an alley in Chinatown.) Welcome to Bernal Heights

Lisa Dawn Colvin's short documentary includes interviews with local seniors.

Wildflowers (2000)

The house at 3340 Folsom Street is featured in this coming-of-age drama starring Daryl Hannah, Eric Roberts, and Clea DuVall. Directed by Melissa Painter.

Four Star Video on Cortland carries many locally made movies. For a list of local filmmakers, be sure to visit the website for Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema.

TELEVISION

Nash Bridges (1996-2001)

Curb Appeal, Home & Garden Television network, 200?
The home at 44 Bradford was featured on this show. Email us if you know the episode name/number.

Print Media

Forbes writes about Avedano's on Cortland.

Los Angeles Times, June 9, 2005
Feature on Bernal architecture.

Sunset, June 2004, page 98
Feature on the porch of the home at 187 Peralta Avenue.

Fine HomeBuilding, Summer 2003
Feature on the home at 475 Nevada Street.

Books

Marcia Muller's detective series
Muller lived in Bernal Heights when she started writing about PI Sharon McCone, and the neighborhood is featured in many of her books.