The Inside Scoop by our Local Expert
South of Market or SoMa is a neighborhood in San Francisco. Market Street is just northwest, the San Francisco Bay is to the east, and U.S. Route 101 is to the southwest. Filled with industries and immigrant industrial workers, South Market was destroyed and had the most fatalities during the 1906 Earthquake. Soon it was partially rebuilt and was again an industrial, slum area until the 1950s. In the 1960s a gay population began to grow and thrive there. The area was not truly cleaned up until the 1980s when long planned renovations began to take place. New buildings and area uplift has continued. This historic area now has many area attractions. Today, the neighborhood has a mix of residential hotels, art galleries, car repair shops, technology companies and warehouses. SoMa is also home to many popular San Francisco museums and theatres.