Leo Martínez
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park. They are also known as Postcard Row and the Seven Sisters. The term Painted Ladies was popularised by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book, Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians. The houses were built between 1892 and 1896 and are still occupied by locals today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | 710–720 Steiner Street, Alamo Square Park, San Francisco |
| Architectural Style | Victorian, Edwardian, Queen Anne |
| Construction Dates | 1892-1896 |
| Developer | Matthew Kavanaugh |
| Colours | Pastel, purple, green, lime, vermilion, gold, turquoise, red, yellow, chocolate, orange, blue |
| Current Occupancy | Yes, by locals |
| Popularity | Major tourist attraction, frequently photographed |
| Cultural Significance | Symbol of San Francisco's architectural heritage, featured in popular media |
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What You'll Learn
- The Painted Ladies are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street
- They are also known as Postcard Row and the Seven Sisters
- The term Painted Ladies was coined by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen
- The houses were built by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door
- The Painted Ladies are one of San Francisco's most photographed sites
The Painted Ladies are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street
The Painted Ladies, a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, are one of the most famous attractions in San Francisco. They are also known as "Postcard Row" or the "Seven Sisters". The houses were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door at 722 Steiner Street, which is sometimes included as the "oldest of the lot" and the seventh "sister".
The term "Painted Ladies" was first used by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book, *Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians*. However, the style of these row houses dates back to the 1860s, with San Francisco's Victorian building boom beginning after the 1849 Gold Rush. The city's population swelled from 800 to 25,000 in a year, and thousands of Victorian and Edwardian houses were built between 1849 and 1915.
The Painted Ladies are a visual reminder of San Francisco's rich history and architectural heritage. They are known for their striking colours, intricate details, and ornate Queen Anne-style architecture. The movement to paint these houses in vibrant colours began in the 1960s with San Francisco artist Butch Kardum, who began experimenting with vivid colours on the facades of these Victorian houses. By the 1970s, the "colourist movement" had transformed entire streets and neighbourhoods, and it continues to this day.
The Painted Ladies are still occupied by locals and are a beautiful reminder of old San Francisco, while the gleaming downtown skyline of new San Francisco shimmers in the distance. They have become one of the most photographed sites in the city, with their fame being enhanced by their appearance in various movies, TV programs, and advertisements, most notably in the opening credits of the television series *Full House*.
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They are also known as Postcard Row and the Seven Sisters
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco, a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, are also known as Postcard Row and the Seven Sisters. The term "Painted Ladies" was first used by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book, "Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians". However, the style of these houses dates back to the 1860s.
The Painted Ladies are one of the most well-recognised examples of California Victorian architecture and have become a staple of San Francisco's landscape. They symbolise the city's architectural traditions and are a reminder of the San Francisco of old. The houses were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door in a mansion at 722 Steiner Street.
The term "Postcard Row" refers to the scenic beauty of the location, with the pastel-coloured homes standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the gentle slope of Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park. This row of houses is one of the most iconic and most photographed sights in San Francisco, appearing frequently in media and mass-market photographs of the city. It has been featured in over 70 movies, TV programmes, and advertisements, including the opening credits of the television series "Full House".
The name "Seven Sisters" may refer to the fact that there are seven houses in the row. These houses are known for their unique colours and details, strictly following the Queen Anne architectural style. While the term "Painted Ladies" generally refers to colourfully repainted Victorian houses, the colours used on the Seven Sisters and other Painted Ladies in San Francisco are not based on historical precedent.
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The term Painted Ladies was coined by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a row of vibrantly coloured Victorian houses, located along Steiner Street, overlooking Alamo Square Park. They are one of the city's most famous landmarks, attracting tourists with their striking colours and intricate architecture. The term "Painted Ladies" was coined by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen, who are partners in both business and life. They moved to San Francisco in 1970 and started the Michael Larsen-Elizabeth Pomada Literary Agency in 1972, housed in one of the city's Painted Ladies. They have since co-authored 14 books, including the Painted Ladies series, solidifying San Francisco's reputation as a haven for colourful architectural wonders.
The Painted Ladies are a visual reminder of the city's rich history and architectural heritage. The term refers specifically to Victorian and Edwardian houses repainted in three or more colours, accentuating their architectural details. The repainting trend began in the 1960s, when artist Butch Kardum started combining intense blues and greens on the exterior of his Italianate-style Victorian house. This sparked a colourist movement, with other artists following suit, transforming entire streets and neighbourhoods.
The Painted Ladies along Steiner Street, also known as Postcard Row or the Seven Sisters, were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh. They are a popular attraction, with their colourful facades and ornate details, including bay windows and steep roofs. The houses are still occupied by locals and stand as a beautiful reminder of the San Francisco of old, with the modern downtown skyline in the distance.
Pomada and Larsen's book, "Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians", published in 1978, played a significant role in popularising the term and bringing attention to these colourful architectural marvels. The book showcases the unique character and history of San Francisco's Painted Ladies, solidifying their place in the city's cultural landscape.
Today, the Painted Ladies continue to captivate visitors and locals alike, with their vibrant hues and striking presence. They serve as a testament to the city's growth and transformation, offering a fascinating glimpse into San Francisco's past while standing alongside the modern developments of the present day.
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The houses were built by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park. They are one of the most famous examples of California Victorian architecture and a staple of the city's landscape. The term "painted lady" refers to Victorian and Edwardian houses repainted, starting in the 1960s, in three or more colours that accentuate their architectural details.
The Painted Ladies were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who lived next door in the 1892 mansion at 722 Steiner Street. Kavanaugh's houses were part of a building boom in San Francisco that began after the 1849 California Gold Rush, which brought an influx of prospectors and entrepreneurs to the city. Approximately 48,000 houses in the Victorian and Edwardian styles were built in San Francisco between 1849 and 1915. Many of these houses were painted in bright colours, with reds, yellows, oranges, and browns being particularly popular.
The Painted Ladies are sometimes known as "Postcard Row" because of their scenic beauty. They are also known as the \"Seven Sisters\". These pastel-coloured homes are one of the most photographed sites in San Francisco and have been featured in popular culture, such as the television show "Full House". The Painted Ladies have become a symbol of San Francisco's architectural traditions and a reminder of the city's rich history.
The repainting of the Painted Ladies in vibrant hues began in the 1960s with San Francisco artist Butch Kardum, who combined intense blues and greens on the exterior of his Italianate-style Victorian house. Other neighbours began to copy Kardum, who became a colour designer and worked with other artists to transform dozens of grey houses into Painted Ladies. By the 1970s, the "colourist movement" had changed entire streets and neighbourhoods, and it continues to this day.
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The Painted Ladies are one of San Francisco's most photographed sites
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park. They are one of the city's most photographed sites, with their vibrant hues and intricate architectural details captivating locals and tourists alike.
The term "Painted Ladies" was first used by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book, "Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians". It refers to Victorian and Edwardian houses repainted in three or more colours, accentuating their architectural features. The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a stunning example of this, with their pastel shades, intricate lacy decorations, bay windows, and steep roofs.
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco stand out not only for their vibrant colours but also for their historical significance. They were built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh, who resided next door at 722 Steiner Street. These homes are a reminder of an era that shaped the city's destiny – the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. The city's population surged from 800 to 25,000 in a single year, sparking a building boom that included these colourful residences.
The Painted Ladies have become a pop culture staple, appearing in numerous movies, TV programmes, and advertisements. They are perhaps most famously recognised from their appearance in the opening credits of the television series "Full House". The Painted Ladies are also known as "Postcard Row" or the "Seven Sisters", and they continue to be a beloved and iconic part of San Francisco's landscape and history.
Today, the Painted Ladies are still occupied by locals and remain a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can stroll down Steiner Street, taking in the unique colours and details of each home while also enjoying the vibrant shops and nightlife of the surrounding neighbourhood. The Painted Ladies are a testament to San Francisco's rich architectural heritage and a delightful fusion of the city's past and present.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Painted Ladies are still occupied by locals.
The Painted Ladies are a row of colourful Victorian houses located at 710–720 Steiner Street, across from Alamo Square Park.
The term "Painted Ladies" was coined by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book "Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians".
The Painted Ladies are painted in three or more colours, including pastel shades, bold purples, and greens.
Yes, the Painted Ladies are a major tourist attraction and one of the most photographed sites in San Francisco.
