History And Current Culture Of The Castro - Castropedia.com

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The castro once know as “little scandanavia” and Eureka Valley has transformed into one of the most thriving and vibrant gay communities in the United States. Find out the history and the current culture of the Castro coming up next on Castropedia.com


Hi I’m Neil Garcia with Castropedia.com your video guide to being gay in San Francisco and the Castro lifestyle.

The Castro, previously known as Eureka Valley, with over 40% of the population being gay, lesbian or bisexual is the epicenter of the gay community in San Francisco. The Castro surrounds the business district lining Castro street from Market street to 19th street.

The neighborhood now known as the Castro was born in 1887 when the Market Street Cable Railway built a line linking Eureka Valley to downtown.

Castro Street was named for José Castro, leader of the Mexican opposition to U.S. rule in California in the 19th century, and also governor of Alta California from 1835-1836.

According to Morgan Spurlock, who filmed "Straight Man in a Gay World", a 2005 episode of his documentary TV series 30 Days in the Castro, the U.S. military offloaded thousands of gay servicemen in San Francisco during World War II after they were discharged for being homosexuals. Many settled in the Castro, and this began the influx of homosexuals to the Castro neighborhood.

The Castro came of age as a gay center following the controversial Summer of Love in the neighboring Haight Ashbury district in 1967. The gathering brought tens of thousands of middle-class youth from all over the United States. The neighborhood, previously known as Eureka Valley, became known as the Castro, after the landmark theatre took the name.


By 1975, Harvey Milk had opened a camera store there, and began political involvement as a gay activist, further contributing to the notion of the Castro as a gay destination. The thriving gay culture in the 70’s was coined as "Castro Clone," a mode of dress and appearance -- tight denim pants, black combat boots, tight T-shirt, and usually coupled with a mustache or full beard. The nickname "Clone Canyon" was also given for the stretch of Castro Street between 18th and Market Streets. There were numerous famous watering holes in the area, contributing to the gay nightlife, including the Corner Grocery Bar, the Norse Cove, the Pendulum, the Midnight Sun, Twin Peaks, and the Elephant Walk

I’m Neil Garcia for Castropedia.com and I’ll see you in the Castro!