Outside Lands San Francisco

Eight (eight!) years ago, in episode #77, we did our first podcast on the Great Highway. Now we're back and chock-full of even more history. This week, Nicole and Arnold take a deeper look at the Great Highway and its early beginnings.

In 1969, Chet Helms opened a new music venue called the Family Dog. Located in the building formerly known as the Ocean Beach Pavilion and later, Topsy's Roost, the Family Dog featured performances by bands that epitomized the late 60s/early 70s like the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Santana, and more.

This week, Woody LaBounty makes a glorious return to the pod to talk about his origin story and time since handing over the reins nearly two years ago, to current WNP Executive Director and your podcast host, Nicole Meldahl.

In 1913, the Pacific Coast Swimming Championships were held on the West Side. Can you guess who was the superstar athlete and toast of the 1912 Olympics who dominated the meet? This week, Nicole and Arnold describe the exciting competition at, surprise, the Sutro Baths.

To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, post-Civil War San Francisco in 1876 was ready to party. Celebration events were held throughout the young City and even on the West Side.

The Museum at the Cliff has reopened! There's even more Cliff House and Sutro Baths ephemera on display and has expanded beyond its Gift Shop exhibit space and into former restaurant. John Lindsey of The Great Highway Gallery, joins the pod along with photographers, Dave Glass and Rob Brodman, to talk about the new photography exhibition in the Cliff House restaurant.

In 1897, John Harris filed suit against the Sutro Baths for race discrimination. Learn about this early case that happened decades before the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Who was General John J. Pershing and why is there a statue of him in Golden Gate Park? And what is his connection to San Francisco? Find out as Nicole and Arnold discuss the man and how the Pershing statue came to be.

Nicole sits down for an oral history conversation with photographer, Christine Huhn.

In the early days, Playland's carousel was called the Hippodrome. The oceanside attraction has an intriguing history and a wonderful happy ending.