Historical photos show sand-covered Great Highway and Sunset
The Great Highway has been closed for the past few days due to windblown sand covering the road, but these historical photos show that earlier residents of San Francisco’s Sunset District and Ocean Beach areas dealt with sand drifts far worse.
The sand can present a hazard for drivers, and the blasting winds turn Ocean Beach into a miserable place for surfers, fishermen and almost everyone else except a handful of hardy kiteboarders. But when the Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond were first being developed, sand often covered streets, sidewalks and yards many blocks away from the water.
Check out these photos from the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection from the San Francisco Public Library. Titles and captions come from the library’s information on the photographs, including references to “Mr. Fixit,” a column from the old San Francisco News newspaper.
Mounds of drifted sand being cleared from Great Highway
"Protests by motorists and sunbathers have resulted in city action to clear the mounds of drifted sand from the Great Highway at the Ocean Beach. Here is a typical scene. But householders near the beach say the city's program doesn't take their welfare into account - they want a long range plan to protect their homes, they tell Mr. Fixit." June 30, 1942. San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection.
Hi Bill
The sooner the better. Another week of 40+ mph winds and the O’Shaunessy seawall on the north end of OB will be completely obscured. Park benches already nearly covered with sand, as is much of the sidewalk promenade.
Last week they were dumping sand at sloat from a dump truck.
Hey Folks, SF Surfrider has been lobbying City officials to truck the excess sand at the north end of the beach down to the erosion hotspot at Sloat, as an interim measure. Generally, the middle stretches need the sand pushed back on the beach due to the proximity of the high tide line. Check out our blog for the latest news on our efforts to restore S. Sloat…
Thanks. I have so much respect for your work. It’s been so disheartening to watch the erosion these past few years, and the seeming paralysis of whichever-the-hell entity to handle it. We’re on 46th and Wawona, and I hope the sea doesn’t claim us before we can sell our business and retire!
Bill, what is your blog?