Bernal Heights and Precita Valley, San Francisco

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) "Walking the Neighborhoods" class taught by Max Kirkeberg. Our second neighborhood walk was Precita Valley on the northern slopes of Bernal Heights. Settlement began here at the end of the 19th century as a lower end working class neighborhood, but today homes sell for $1,000,000 if they have views.


View of downtown San Francisco from Bernal Heights

The OLLI class gathers at the barrier on Bernal Heights Blvd.

Max Kirkeberg

Max Kirkeberg and OLLI class on Bernal Heights


Bernal Heights hill and microwave tower

Lofty views of downtown San Francisco



New Housing on Ripley


Old small Victorian houses: A door and a garage (12.5 feet wide)

Remodled Victorian Houses: A door and a garage (12.5 feet wide)

New Construction: A door and a garage (12.5 feet wide)

Alamo Square, San Francisco

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute “Walking the Neighborhoods” class taught and led by Max Kirkeberg.

Alamo Square is a residential neighborhood and park in San Francisco, California. The Square consists of four city blocks at the top of a hill overlooking much of San Francisco, with a number of large and architecturally distinctive mansions along the perimeter. The park includes a playground and a tennis court, and is frequented by neighbors, tourists, and dog owners. A row of Victorian houses facing the park on Steiner Street, known as the painted ladies, are often shown in the foreground of panoramic pictures of the city's downtown area. On a clear day, the Transamerica Pyramid building and the tops of the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Bridge can be seen from the park’s center. San Francisco’s City Hall can be seen directly down Fulton Street.


Max Kirkeberg

The Painted Ladies


View of Fulton Street from Alamo Square

Potted plants in Alamo Square


Victorian on Grove Street

Approaching Fulton and Scott Streets

Victorians on McAllister Street