Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Doolan/Larson Residence and Storefronts

557 Ashbury St. / 1500-1512 Haight St.

— San Francisco Landmark No. 253 —

Doolan/Larson Residence and Storefronts Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 5, 2021

1. Doolan/Larson Residence and Storefronts Marker

Inscription. Located at the corner made famous during the hippie movement, this Colonial Revival style house was constructed in 1903 as the personal residence of Richard P. Doolan. A year after the 1906 earthquake and fire, he raised the building to accommodate retail beneath it and added the separate row of storefronts to the west. These two buildings have housed a wide variety of shops through the years. One of the longest tenants was Holcombe Jewelers, which occupied the corner space from 1937 to 1988. Between 1965 and 1968, 1510 Haight street housed the mod clothing boutique, Mnasidika, one of the first hippie shops in San Francisco.

Designated July 14, 2006

Historic Preservation Commission

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 2006.

Location. 37° 46.21′ N, 122° 26.826′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Haight-Ashbury. Marker is at the intersection of Ashbury Street and Haight Street on Ashbury Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 557 Ashbury Street, San Francisco CA 94117, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Oscar J. Jackson (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dune Stabilization is a Grassroots Effort (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dante Benedetti

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(approx. half a mile away); Native Daughters of the Golden West (approx. half a mile away); Native Daughters of the Golden West Home (approx. half a mile away); The First Public Children's Playground in the United States (approx. 0.6 miles away); Polytechnic High School (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Francisco Lawn Bowling Clubhouse and Greens (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . NRHP nomination forms for the Doolan/Larson structure (National Archives). Contains both the initial and accepted National Register forms, providing an extended building history, photos, and bibliography relating to cultural context. (Submitted on July 6, 2021.)

Doolan/Larson Residence and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 5, 2021

2. Doolan/Larson Residence and Marker

"In addition to its architectural significance and role in the early development of Haight Street, the building played an extraordinarily significant role in the hippie era as the home of “Mnasidika,” an early hippie clothing shop, and as the back drop for musicians, TV interviewers and journalists seeking a location that represented the“Flower Power” era of Haight-Ashbury. The Doolan Building’s distinct appearance and location has become an icon captured by photographers from the 1960s to the present day." - San Francisco County Staff Report, NRHP forms

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 6, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.