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Grant Avenue in San Francisco and Chinatown's Dragon Gate

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The Dragon Gate is a structure found along Grant Avenue at the southern boundary of Chinatown approaching Bush Street.  The structure is in the style of a traditional pailou and was dedicated during October 1970. Chinatown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Francisco and traditionally has been centered around Grant Avenue. Grant Avenue previously was known as Dupont Street and Calle de la Fundación.




Part 1; the history of the Dragon Gate

The Chinatown neighborhood of San Francisco began to develop at the height of the California Gold Rush around Portsmouth Square along Dupont Street (now Grant Avenue).  Dupont Street was originally known as Calle de la Fundación when San Francisco was part of Alta California.  Dupont Street was designated in 1847 during the Mexican-American War and was named to honor of the Navy Admiral from the USS Portsmouth.  

The majority of Chinese migrants arrived from the Pearl River Delta and Guangdong from the 1850s through to the early 1900s.  The neighborhood is now generally thought to encompass twenty-four square blocks.  Chinatown is roughly bounded by Kearny Street, Broadway, Powell Street and Bush Street.  

Chinatown can be seen below as it was displayed on the 1885 Farwell Map of the neighborhood.  Chinatown is shown to be bounded by California Street, Stockton Street, Broadway and Kearney Street.


Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Dupont Street was upgraded and renamed Grant Avenue.  The street was renamed in honor of President Ulysses S. Grant.  

Chinatown can be seen at current neighborhood boundaries on the 1929 Huapei Huang Map of Chinatown. 


Numerous temporary gate structures around Chinatown were erected during the twentieth century. During 1967 the city of San Francisco held a design contest for a permanent gate structure for Chinatown. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Dragon Gate was held during October 1967 but construction did not begin until August 1968. Much of the materials used to construct the Dragon Gate were donated by the Republic of China (alternatively Taiwan). The structure was largely complete by early 1969 but was not dedicated until October 18, 1970. Dragon Gate is in the style of a traditional pailou.



Part 2; a tour on Grant Avenue in Chinatown to the Dragon Gate

Grant Avenue between Bush Street north to Broadway is carried one-way northbound through Chinatown. This photo tour progresses south on Grant Avenue through Chinatown from Broadway to Dragon Gate at Bush Street.












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