North Beach in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Devil's Acre & Battle Row

"The Center of Sin in San Francisco"

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2020

1. Devil's Acre & Battle Row Marker

Inscription. From the mid-1880s onward, the diagonally cut block bounded by Broadway, Kearny, and Columbus came to be known tocally as the "Devil's Acre,” a place described by the San Francisco Call in 1886 as "the resort and abiding place of the worst criminals in town." It was here that vice and vulgarity reigned supreme, a district of depraved citizens and disreputable dens aptly charaeterized as "the lowest spot of its kind in the city.” Perhaps the most notorious strip of the Devil's Acre was the eastern side of Kearny Street, known as "Battle Row;” a line of dens that reportedly "catered to the lowest of the Barbary Coast hangers-on."

Erected 2018 by Top of Broadway Community Benefits District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 37° 47.834′ N, 122° 24.328′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in North Beach. It is at the intersection of Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Kearny Street.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94133, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: San Francisco Brewing Company (a few steps from this marker); The Lusty Lady (within shouting distance of this marker); Lupo’s Restaurant (within shouting distance of this marker); Niebaum-Coppola (within shouting distance of this marker); American Zoetrope (within shouting distance of this marker); Little Chile (within shouting distance of this marker); Finnochio's (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Jazz Workshop (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. This is one of a number of historical

Devil's Acre & Battle Row Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2020

2. Devil's Acre & Battle Row Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here, embedded in the sidewalk, next to the green garbage can.

markers installed by the Top of Broadway Community Benefits District in the Spring of 2018.

Additional keywords. prostitution

Devil's Acre & Battle Row Marker - wider view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 11, 2020

3. Devil's Acre & Battle Row Marker - wider view

The marker is barely visible here, in the sidewalk by the garbage can in front of the black building.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,100 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.