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San Francisco's Hidden Gems

San Francisco's alternative side features a range of specialized cultural sites and interactive installations. Explore the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps' mosaic artistry or the James Turrell "Three Gems" skyspace. Discover niche collections at the Antique Vibrator Museum and the taxidermy-filled Paxton Gate. For interactive experiences, the city offers concrete slides at Seward Street, vintage pinball at Free Gold Watch, and the immersive sound environment of Audium. These sites highlight the city's commitment to community art, peculiar history, and unconventional entertainment.

Carol M. Highsmith / Public domain

A

16th Avenue Tiled Steps

Colorful mosaic staircase featuring sea and sky-themed designs with scenic views and community art projects.

Ossobuco / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Lands End Labyrinth

Stone labyrinth created by artist Eduardo Aguilera, situated on a rocky outcrop at Eagle’s Point. It offers views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.

C

Seward Street Slides

Two steep, parallel concrete slides built in 1973 within a small community park. Visitors typically use cardboard to increase speed during the descent.

Mycota / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Good Vibrations Antique Vibrator Museum

Good Vibrations is a sex-positive San Francisco-based corporation selling sex toys and other erotic products.

Christopher Michel / CC BY 2.0

E

Paxton Gate

A very peculiar little store with truly interesting goods to offer. Just take a look!

F

Peephole Cinema

A strange project that's there for free for people who dare to look through a small hole in a hidden alley.

G

Three Gems

An intricate piece in which you can sit, enjoy the acoustics and look at the sky, contemplating the meaning of the sculpture.

H

Kimono Dave

A collection of vintage and antique memorabilia with some bizarre bits thrown into the mix.

I

Free Gold Watch

One of the biggest collection of old pinball machines that are still in working order and ready for any new and old players to join the fun.

Justin Pickard / CC BY-SA 2.0

J

Audium

A specialized theater designed for sound-sculptured space, featuring 176 speakers. Performances take place in total darkness, utilizing spatial sound to create an immersive auditory environment.

Simon Cobb / CC0

K

San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB)

A non-profit center dedicated to the book arts, offering workshops in letterpress printing, bookbinding, and traditional printmaking. The facility includes a gallery space featuring exhibitions on contemporary book design.