Montgomery Street

Why go

Montgomery Street is defined by the street pattern and public spaces of Montgomery Street. Another layer comes from architecture and daily movement across Montgomery Street. Plan Montgomery Street by remembering to set a compact boundary around Montgomery Street before walking. After Montgomery Street, choose a district beside Montgomery Street; this keeps Montgomery Street geographically coherent and avoids forcing Montgomery Street into an unrelated crossing.

What to look for

• Look closely at the street pattern and public spaces of Montgomery Street.
• Notice architecture and daily movement across Montgomery Street.

The full story

It runs about 16 blocks from the Telegraph Hill neighborhood south through downtown, terminating at Market Street. South of Columbus Avenue, Montgomery Street runs through the heart of San Francisco's Financial District and contains one of the highest concentrations of financial activity, investment business, and venture capital in the United States and the world. For this reason, it is known as "the Wall Street of the West". South of Market Street, the street continues as New Montgomery Street for two more blocks to terminate at Howard Street in the SOMA district. In the 1830s, the land which is now Montgomery Street lay at the edge of San Francisco Bay. Intense land speculation during the Gold Rush created a demand for more usable land in the rapidly growing city, and sandy bluffs near the waterfront were leveled and the shallows filled with sand to make new building lots. Between 1849 and 1852, the waterfront advanced about four blocks. At present, Montgomery Street is about seven blocks from the water.

Useful to know

• For Montgomery Street, set a compact boundary around Montgomery Street before walking.
• Pair Montgomery Street with a district beside Montgomery Street when the route and opening conditions align.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.