Tenderloin in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Compton's Cafeteria Riot - 1966
Uptown Tenderloin
| | Lost Landmarks | |
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 16, 2015
1. Compton's Cafeteria Riot Marker
One August evening in 1966, transgender women and gay men banded together to fight back against oppression after a police officer harassed one of them at Gene Compton's Cafeteria. This confrontation was the first known full-scale riot for Transgender and Gay rights in the U.S. history. It galvanized the community, prompting new public policies and social services that improved the lives of local transgender people.
Erected by Uptown Tenderloin Historic District.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • Law Enforcement. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1966.
Location. 37° 46.996′ N, 122° 24.657′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Tenderloin. It is at the intersection of Turk Street and Taylor Street on Turk Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 112 Turk Street, San Francisco CA 94102, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gene Compton's Cafeteria Riot 1966 (here, next to this marker); Warfield Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bulldog Baths (within shouting distance of this marker); Dahlia Hotel (within shouting
this page online
Regarding Compton's Cafeteria Riot - 1966. Nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.
Also see . . .
1. Lost Landmarks. This marker is one of 9 Lost Landmark sidewalk plaques authorized by the Board of Supervisors on September 6, 2011. “These Lost Landmark sites will greatly illuminate the forgotten history of these San Francisco sites of historic significance; now, therefore be it” (Submitted on December 17, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
2. Let's Not Forget About Compton's Cafeteria Riot. By Neal Broverman, August 2, 2018, Advocate. (Submitted on May 28, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. Gay Rights LGBT LGBTQ
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 16, 2015
2. Compton's Cafeteria Riot Marker
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 16, 2015
3. 111 Taylor Street
The building that housed Compton's Cafeteria was built in 1907, A.M. Edelman architect. It was the Hotel Hyland in 1907, Hotel Young in 1908, Hotel Empire in 1911, Chapin Hotel in 1920, Hotel Raford in 1923, the Tyland Hotel, and the Hotel Warfield in 1982. Today it's The 111 Taylor Street Apartments.
Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015
4. The Land of Oshun
Marker can be seen in the sidewalk on the right.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,488 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 26, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
