The Painted Ladies
Alamo Square's famous "postcard row" at Hayes and Steiner Streets is indeed a visual treat. A tight, escalating formation of Victorian houses is back-dropped by downtown skyscrapers, providing a stunning contrast. The Painted Ladies are Victorian and Edwardian style houses and buildings repainted in the 1960s, in three or more colours that embellish or enhance their architectural details.
The term was first used for San Francisco Victorian houses by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their 1978 book Painted Ladies. Although the colours were not chosen for historical accuracy they do make a very stunning visual statement to the San Francisco city streets.
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