San Francisco's Bernal Heights originated in 1839 with a land grant to José Bernal. By 1860, Bernal's land belonged to Francois Pioche, who subdivided it into smaller lots.

This book highlights some of my favorite stairways, streets, and houses from the Bernal Heights East neighborhood, which was once called Peralta Heights. Bernal Heights has more stairway streets than any other San Francisco neighborhood, and is 500 ft. elevation.

Annual not-to-be-missed neighborhood events include the Hillwide Community Garage Sales Day (all over the hill), and the "Fiesta on the Hill" street fair on several blocks of Cortland, the main shopping street.

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