Macondray Lane Secret Pedestrian Path: Armistead Maupin's Barbary Lane

Why is it significant?

Pass through the wooden gateway into the magical, secluded sanctuary of Macondray Lane, an intimate two-block cobblestone and gravel footpath running east-west between Jones and Taylor Streets.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Pass through the wooden gateway into the magical, secluded sanctuary of Macondray Lane, an intimate two-block cobblestone and gravel footpath running east-west between Jones and Taylor Streets. Completely closed to automobile traffic, this enchanting wooded alley is celebrated across world literature as the real-life inspiration for '28 Barbary Lane' in Armistead Maupin's beloved multi-volume saga, Tales of the City. In Maupin's novels, the fictional landlady Mrs. Madrigal presided over an eccentric family of queer and searching tenants who found acceptance and freedom in the bohemian heart of Russian Hill.

Stroll slowly along the stone path, surrounded by a dense woodland canopy of bamboo groves, camellias, flowering rhododendrons, and creeping ivy. Handcrafted wooden benches, terracotta flowerpots, and whimsical stone birdbaths are tucked outside cottage gates. The charming shingled cottages, clapboard flats, and tiny carriage houses along the lane date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, facing inward toward this shared public garden.

Look down over the northern wooden railing through the tree branches to catch glimpses of Alcatraz Island and the blue waters of San Francisco Bay. The path was originally named for Frederick William Macondray, a Massachusetts sea captain and Gold Rush merchant who served on the city's early Board of Aldermen and helped establish San Francisco's agricultural societies. The intricate architectural craftsmanship and preserved streetscapes remind every visitor of the city's remarkable ability to reinvent itself after catastrophic disasters while safeguarding its authentic bohemian soul. The intricate architectural craftsmanship and preserved streetscapes remind every visitor of the city's remarkable ability to reinvent itself after catastrophic disasters while safeguarding its authentic bohemian soul. The intricate architectural craftsmanship and preserved streetscapes remind every visitor of the city's remarkable ability to reinvent itself after catastrophic disasters while safeguarding its authentic bohemian soul.

Notice the gentle trickle of water from a hidden garden fountain; Macondray Lane was designated an official historic district by the city in 1988 to protect its tranquil character.

Exit Macondray Lane onto Jones Street and walk north for one block to Florence Street.