
Outside Lands San Francisco
Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, a real fact or two, and much-better-informed occasional guests.
Latest episodes

Oct 17, 2020 • 36min
401: Billington Brothers Photography
The Billington Brothers are the photographers behind many of the images around the Cliff House, Sutro Baths, and Land's End. Special guest John Freeman tells us how the brothers transformed themselves after arriving in San Francisco.

Oct 10, 2020 • 42min
400: Children's Hospital
Known by different names and in different locations, Children's Hospital has served San Francisco since the 1880s. And the journey continues to this day.

Oct 3, 2020 • 36min
399: Richmond District WPA Playgrounds
In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration constructed a variety of projects in San Francisco that endure to this day. This week, we shake the sand out of our shoes and explore our favorite WPA-era built playgrounds in the Richmond.

Sep 26, 2020 • 38min
398: Willie Mays on the West Side
Willie Mays is a baseball icon. Already a superstar when the Giants moved to San Francisco, Willie and his wife, Marghuerite, found a new home near Mt. Davidson, only to be denied purchase because they were African American - but ultimately prevailed.

Sep 19, 2020 • 37min
397: Little Sisters of the Poor
Listener request fulfilled! Little Sisters of the Poor have been providing comfort to less fortunate San Franciscans for over a hundred years. Their beautiful Lake Street building survived the 1906 Earthquake & Fire, but where is it today?

Sep 12, 2020 • 38min
396: Forest Knolls
You've probably driven past the Forest Knolls neighborhood many times without even knowing it. Community action led by a now prominent politician, finally opened up the development to people of color.

Sep 5, 2020 • 41min
395: Catholic Sunset
Take a tour of some of the Catholic parishes in the Sunset. This week, we cover St. Anne's, St. John of God, Holy Name Parish, and St. Gabriel Church.

Aug 29, 2020 • 37min
394: AIDS Memorial Grove
Golden Gate Park is home to the National AIDS Memorial Grove. Formerly de Laveaga Dell, the Grove provides a serene location to commemorate loved ones lost to the AIDS pandemic.

Aug 21, 2020 • 35min
393: Rousseau Brothers Realty
You can't miss spotting a Rousseau-built "Storybook" home in the Sunset. Special guest Michael Lange joins the pod to tell the story of the Rousseau brothers and how they developed their distinctive homes across the West Side of San Francisco.

Aug 15, 2020 • 39min
392: Dr. Emma Sutro Merritt
Dr. Emma Sutro Merritt was Adolf Sutro's eldest child. Accomplished in her own right, she left a lasting legacy in San Francisco to this day. WNP's Chelsea Sellin joins the live podcast as we continue this year's celebration of Women on the West Side.