1961 Map of San Francisco

About this map

San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area appear in significant detail during the early 1960s, a period marked by dense urban consolidation and a heavy military footprint. The map captures the complex geography of the peninsula and the East Bay, showing the concentration of naval and army installations that defined the region's mid-century character, from the Presidio and Fort Mason to the Alameda Naval Air Station. Beyond the city centers of Oakland and Berkeley, the survey traces the southward expansion into San Mateo and Hayward, as well as the coastal terrain along the Pacific Ocean. Offshore, the remote Farallon National Wildlife Refuge and Alcatraz Island stand as distinct landmarks within the Gulf of the Farallones. This survey provides a clear view of the regional transport network before later decades of massive highway expansion, featuring the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.