Only 120 years ago this area, as well as neighboring Diamond Heights, was so isolated that only farmers would settle here. Then, in 1892, a German immigrant named Behrend Joost founded the city's first electric streetcar to shuttle residents to jobs downtown, and a neighborhood was born.

Hemmed in by steep hills, Glen Park is defined by its quintessentially San Franciscan topography. Only 120 years ago this area, as well as neighboring Diamond Heights, was part of the Outside Lands, so isolated that only farmers would settle here. Life revolved around Islais Creek, which ran through the canyon and provided water for the dairies. Then, in 1892, a German immigrant named Behrend Joost founded the citys first electric streetcar to shuttle residents to jobs downtown, and a neighborhood was born. As peak-roofed wooden cottages and houses began to fill in the valleys, the urban, homey, and decidedly livable Glen Park that we know today began to emerge.

"Comme la plupart des villes américaines, San Francisco s'est développée suivant un système de grille orthogonale, ne tenant pas compte de la topographie particulière (42 collines et une baie). Il en résulte un phénomène peu commun : les rues rectilignes jouent aux montagnes russes car l'outil du colonisateur et les reliefs sont entrés en guerre au mépris d'une rationalité évidente.

See San Francisco like never before: Step up to 39 of its best stairway walks! Hundreds of public stairways traverse San Francisco’s boundless hills, revealing scenic vistas and connecting colorful, diverse neighborhoods. Since 1984, Stairway Walks in San Francisco has been helping urban explorers discover the best of the City by the Bay via riser and handrail. Now in its 10th edition, this beloved guidebook by Mary Burk with Adah Bakalinsky includes four new walks, updates of classic favorites, and many new photographs. The amazing walks invite you to explore well-known and clandestine corridors, from Marshall Beach and Noe Valley to Lands End and Telegraph Hill. Whether you want to learn about the city’s history and architecture, elevate your exercise routine, or just let your feet lead the way to new adventures, Stairway Walks in San Francisco has something for everyone. It has been the essential city walking guide for more than 40 years! Get this updated edition, and start walking. Book Features Comprehensive list of the city’s 700-plus stairways 39 walks incorporating San Francisco’s magnificent stairway network Lively route descriptions, at-a-glance Quick-Step summaries, and easy-to-read maps Parking and public-transportation information for each walk