In
its heyday during the 1870s and 80s, the Barbary
Coast's dim-lit streets were alive with bawdy songs
of revelry and shrieks of mayhem. Murders were a
common occurrence and police dared not enter alone
without pistol and truncheon. The Barbary Coast
encompassed a 40-square block area bounded by East
Street (now the Embarcadero) along the bay, Dupont
Street (now Grant Avenue) to the west, Broadway
north, and Commercial Street to the south. Kearny
Street between Pacific and Broadway earned the name
Devil's Acre, where it was said "you could raise
ten men for any adventure in as many minutes."
Source:
Walking San Francisco on the Barbary Coast Trail
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