Feel the wind whip through your hair as you stand on the Great Highway. This iconic San Francisco road hugs the Pacific coast. It’s more than just a road. It’s a piece of San Francisco history.
The Great Highway wasn’t always there. Its story began much earlier in 1868. That’s when the Humphreys-Potter map outlined its route. This map planned the streets of San Francisco’s newly acquired Outside Lands. The Richmond and Sunset districts were included in these plans.
Years later in the 1890s a railway line was built along the route. It was needed for the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. The tracks were removed by 1895. The berm remains. It now supports a multi-use pathway.
The early 1900s saw the rise of the automobile. The city improved and widened the Great Highway. Protecting it from erosion was also a priority. City engineer Michael O’Shaughnessy’s Ocean Beach Esplanade was completed in 1928. The Great Highway was paved in 1929. That concrete seawall still stands.
The Great Highway became a hot rod haven during the 1950s and 60s. Modified cars raced along its length. The 1980s saw a change. The highway was reduced from eight lanes to four. An underwater stormwater transport box was added. This was done to comply with the California Coastal Act and the Clean Water Act.
More recently a two-mile section between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard has been a source of debate. It was temporarily closed to vehicles during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. People called it the Great Walkway. It attracted many pedestrians and cyclists. The city eventually settled on a compromise. The section remains open to cars on weekdays but is closed on weekends and holidays. In 2024 voters approved Measure K. This permanently closes the section to cars. It will become an oceanfront park.
Even further south the Great Highway extension faces a different fate. Rising sea levels threaten this section. It’s scheduled to close permanently in early 2026. A multi-use pathway plaza and seawall will replace it. This is part of the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project.
The Great Highway. A testament to San Francisco’s evolution a blend of history and adaptation. It’s a story that continues to unfold before our eyes. As you walk along its path imagine the waves of history washing over this iconic San Francisco landmark.