The Richmond district used to be sand dunes as far as the eye could see up until the late 19th century. Since then, it\u2019s grown up into a <\/span>diverse <\/span>residential neighborhood with some of the best Chinese and Russian cuisine in the city. Explore its rich history below, and don\u2019t forget to take a trip to see it for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0766.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n In 1868, San Francisco\u2019s Board of Supervisors passed the Outside Lands Ordinances, which set aside land in the Richmond district for parks, schools, fire stations and a cemetery, with the hope that the city would continue to expand west<\/span>ward<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Richmond district is actually named after a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. One of the area\u2019s first residents, <\/span>an Australian immigrant named<\/span> George Turner Marsh<\/span>, called his home \u201cthe Richmond House,\u201d and the name stuck.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp24.0164a.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Situated between Point Lobos Avenue (Geary Boulevard) and Fulton Street, between Arguello and Sixth, Camp Merritt deployed 18,000 troops to the Philippines <\/span>during the Spanish-American War<\/span>. <\/span>Remaining troops were later moved north to The Presidio in August of 1898.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp15.207.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Up until 1906, development in the Richmond district was slow. Geary and Arguello were the first roads to be paved, and that didn\u2019t happen until 1889.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0482.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n This second version of the Cliff House was built by Adolph Sutro in 1896. Designed as a Victorian chateau, it was nicknamed by some locals as \u201cthe Gingerbread Palace.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp30.0328.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n La Bonita Theatre \u2014 now known somewhat ironically as the 4-Star Theatre \u2014 <\/span>made headlines back in January<\/span> when the property was <\/span>listed on Craigslist<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0872.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n The 1906 earthquake destroyed much of San Francisco\u2019s Financial District and South of Market neighborhoods, which led residents westward where the streets weren\u2019t filled with rubble. Now a major thoroughfare in the Richmond known as Geary Avenue, Point Lobos Avenue used to be a <\/span>must see attraction <\/span>in the late 19th century.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0979.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Playland at the Beach was an oceanfront amusement park spanning ten acres. It was open for 59 years, from 1913 to 1972.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0944.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n The Big Dipper was a huge hit after it joined the revelry of Playland attractions in 1922. That year, The San Francisco Chronicle deemed the rides, \u201cclean, safe, moral attractions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp32.0009.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Central Richmond, where this photo was taken, typically had \u201cMarina Style\u201d homes, <\/span>characterized by a large bay <\/span>bedroom<\/span> window facing <\/span>onto the street, as well as split bathrooms where the toilet is <\/span>located in<\/span> a separate room from the sink and shower.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp25.0282.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Beginning in the 1950s, Chinese immigrants came to the Richmond district en masse. Now nearly half of the residents in the Richmond are of Chinese descent.<\/p>\n Photo: <\/span><\/i>OpenSFHistory \/ wnp4\/wnp4.0980.jpg<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the popularity of Playland stagnated after WWII, and the amusement park fell into disrepair. It was demolished Labor Day weekend in 1972.<\/span><\/p>\nSand dunes on the horizon at Ocean Beach, circa 1870<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"richmond](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/richmond-1-compressed.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTroops waiting for deployment to the Philippines, 1898<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nA home near Mountain Lake, circa 1899<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe second Cliff House along Ocean Beach, 1906<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nLa Bonita Theatre, 1919<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nConstruction of Point Lobos Avenue, 1922<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nA rare snow sighting and snowball fight, 1932<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Big Dipper roller coaster, 1935<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPortion of a street caved in on 29th Ave. and Clement, circa 1940s<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n16th Ave. between Geary and Clement, 1957<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPlayland demolition, 1972<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAlong 2nd Avenue, near Cabrillo, 1974<\/b><\/h2>\n