Photo © Ingrid Taylar
Marina District Map & Photos
- Marina District & Cow Hollow Map
- San Francisco Street Map (with districts)
- Crissy Field to Golden Gate Bridge - Photo Tour
Marina & Cow Hollow Boundaries
- North: Marina Boulevard/Marina Green
- South: Broadway
- East: Van Ness
- West: Presidio/Lyon
Marina District Overview
The Marina District began with a seawall and a world exposition. The seawall was built in the late 1800s with a plan to fill the shallow water and create some acreage of developed land. The fill was finally completed for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, and subsequently developed into residential lots.
Cow Hollow got its name from the cattle that used to graze on the land below Pacific Heights. Pressure from residents helped move the cows out, and made room for the development we see today in the neighborhood.
Spared the devastating damage sustained by other parts of San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake, the area is an ideal place to view some of the city's original Victorian architecture. The Marina and Cow Hollow neighborhoods are also known for their busy shopping districts (Union Street and Chestnut Street) as well as a vibrant night life and restaurant scene -- often characterized as young and affluent.
The Marina and Cow Hollow are bordered by some of the most beautiful green and open spaces in San Francisco: The Presidio, Crissy Field, Marina Green and Fort Mason's meadow.
If you're new to San Francisco and need some help navigating the public transport system, check out the Guide to Muni, BART and Trip Planners