Twin Peaks Tavern

The building was first constructed in 1883 (formerly at the address 3999-17th Street).{{Cite web |last=Rahaim |first=John |last2=Lee |first2=Edwin M. |author-link2=Edwin M. Lee |date=September 24, 2012 |title=Twin Peaks Tavern, 401 Castro Street |url=https://default.sfplanning.org/Preservation/landmarks_designation/Adopted_TwinPeaksLM_Report.pdf |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Landmark Designation Report, San Francisco Planning Department |publisher=City and County of San Francisco}} It displays a 1923 Mediterranean revival-style façade. It sits on a lot that contains two buildings, located at the intersection of Castro Street and Market Street. In 1890s, the building was occupied by a saloon and cigar shop. The Twin Peaks Tavern had opened in 1935 as a regular Irish pub.{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Waiyde |date=November 17, 2012 |title=Twin Peaks Tavern to be Named City LGBT Historical Landmark |url=https://hoodline.com/2012/11/twin-peaks-tavern-to-be-named-city-lgbt-historical-landmark/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Hoodline.com |language=en}}

File:Twin Peaks Tavern bar San Francisco.jpg

In 1972, the business was taken over by two lesbian friends Mary Ellen Cunha and Peggy Forster, who removed the window coverings a year later, making it believed to be the first gay bar which revealed its customers to the outside. Until then, most American gay bars and clubs had shuttered windows so outsiders couldn't see who was inside and thus apparently queer, something that could have led to job loss or social exclusion.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2022 |title=Koningin Máxima bezoekt historische gaybar San Francisco |url=https://www.out.tv/nieuws/koningin-maxima-bezoekt-historische-gaybar-san-francisco/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=OUTtv |language=nl-NL}} The interior has a partial mezzanine; a U-shaped wooden bar; and a pre-Prohibition mirrored backbar.

In 2003, Cunha and Forster sold the Twin Peaks Tavern to Jeffrey Green and George Roehm, who had previously worked as bartenders at the establishment.{{Cite web |last=Sugarman |first=Saul |date=2021-03-17 |title=Our Queer Institutions Must Survive the Pandemic |url=https://www.sfweekly.com/culture/our-queer-institutions-must-survive-the-pandemic/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=SF Weekly |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Rob |date=2003-06-27 |title='Gay Cheers' offers lessons for right-wingers |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gay-Cheers-offers-lessons-for-right-wingers-2567662.php |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=SFGate |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Borrman |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4JjCgAAQBAJ |title=Discovering Vintage San Francisco: A Guide to the City’s Timeless Eateries, Bars, Shops & More |date=2015-09-01 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-4930-1402-6 |pages=198 |language=en}}

"Through The Windows" (2019; 56 minutes) is a documentary short film about the tavern, directed by Petey Barma and Bret Parker.{{Cite web |last=Provenzano |first=Jim |title=Twin Peaks Tavern documentary’s benefit screening July 10 |url=https://www.ebar.com/story.php?294638 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en-us}}

In 2020, the tavern was in danger of closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic; they launched a GoFundMe and the community was able to raise enough money for the tavern to survive.{{Cite web |last=Provenzano |first=Jim |title=Twin Peaks Tavern reaches $100K fundraiser goal (Updated) |url=https://www.ebar.com/story.php?300603 |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=2020-12-31 |title=San Francisco's iconic Twin Peaks Tavern in danger of closing, looking for donations |url=https://abc7news.com/twin-peaks-tavern-san-francisco-castro-district-covid-19/9204891/ |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=ABC7 San Francisco |language=en}}

On September 6, 2022, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands was received in the Twin Peaks Tavern, where she listened to the concerns of members of the LGBT community.{{Cite web |last=Schmale |first=Jeroen |date=September 6, 2022 |title=Máxima begint haar Amerikaanse tour in lhbti-wijk San Francisco: ‘Dit is zo bijzonder’ |trans-title=Máxima starts her American tour in the LGBTI neighborhood of San Francisco: 'This is so special' |url=https://www.ad.nl/show/maxima-begint-haar-amerikaanse-tour-in-lhbti-wijk-san-francisco-dit-is-zo-bijzonder~a37bb755/ |website=AD |publisher=DPG Media B.V.}} Additionally she visited the Castro Theatre and the GLBT Historical Society.{{Cite web |last=Moench |first=Mallory |date=2022-09-06 |title=S.F. just got its first royal visit in 17 years. Here’s what Queen Máxima of the Netherlands did in the Castro |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-just-got-its-first-royal-visit-in-17-years-17423274.php |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US |issn=1932-8672}}

{{Portal|LGBTQ}}

• LGBT culture in San Francisco
• List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks
• Rainbow Honor Walk
• White Night Riots

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Damon |date=2004 |others=Friends of 1800 |title=Sexing the City: The Development of Sexual Identity Based Subcultures in San Francisco, 1933–1979 }}

{{Commons}}

• [https://www.twinpeakstavern.com/ Official website]
• {{imdb title|8991756|Through the Windows}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:San Francisco Designated Landmarks

Category:1935 establishments in California

Category:Castro District, San Francisco

Category:LGBTQ drinking establishments in San Francisco