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

Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park

1814 - 1904

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 18, 2015

1. Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park Marker

Inscription. Mother of Civil Rights in California.
She supported the western terminus of the underground railway for fugitive slaves, 1850-1865. This legendary pioneer once lived on this site and planted these six trees.
Placed by the San Francisco African-American Historical and Cultural Society.

Erected by San Francisco African-American Historical and Cultural Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Civil Rights.

Location. 37° 47.267′ N, 122° 25.617′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Japantown. It is at the intersection of Octavia Street and Bush Street, on the right when traveling south on Octavia Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1661 Octavia Streety, San Francisco CA 94109, 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,

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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: House of Gerhard F. Terschuren (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Soto Mission of San Francisco (about 600 feet away); Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (approx. 0.2 miles away); Uoki Sakai (approx. 0.2 miles away); Issei Women's Legacy (approx. 0.2 miles away); A New Ballgame (approx. ¼ mile away); Sarcophagus of Thomas Starr King (approx. 0.3 miles away); Haas-Lilienthal House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park is the smallest park in San Francisco.

Also see . . . Don’t call her Mammy - The New Fillmore entry. In 1852, Pleasant came to San Francisco, fleeing prosecution under the Fugitive Slave Act for her work leading people from slavery to freedom. She continued that work in California, sheltering people who escaped slavery and
August 23, 2020

2. Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park Marker
finding employment for them. She met at least once with abolitionist John Brown and gave him money to help with the cause. In accordance with her wishes, her tombstone, in Napa, states: “She was a Friend of John Brown.” (Submitted on July 16, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 18, 2015

3. Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park Marker

Trees planted by Mary Ellen Pleasant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, March 18, 2015

4. Trees planted by Mary Ellen Pleasant

Mary Ellen Pleasant image. Click for full size.

5. Mary Ellen Pleasant

via The New Fillmore, 1901

6. Mary Ellen Pleasant

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 2,001 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 16, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2. submitted on August 24, 2020. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 16, 2015, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 6. submitted on January 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.