This is the new PERMANENT home for The Beat Museum as
seen from City Lights Bookstore.

The Beat Museum
540 Broadway
San Francisco, CA  94133

We're taking over the space being vacated by Black Oak
Books.  You'll note we're located right next to The
Hungry I Club in the building formerly known as the
Swiss American Hotel.  This is an old residence hotel
which today houses fifty apartments on the upper two
floors.  Bob Kaufman used to live at this hotel for
many years but, according to Bill Morgan's account on
page 82 of "The Beat Generation in San Francisco".....

....."the hotel's real clain to fame is Lenny Bruce's
March 29, 1965 fall from a second-story window.
Whether he fell or jumped was never quite known.
Bruce was taken to the hospital, where they put his
leg in a cast.  According to the newspapers, hospital
attendents taped his mouth shut to stem the stream of
profanity.  (He saw it as social commentary.)  He
still had the cast on when Ferlinghetti saw him in the
lobby of the old Fillmore Auditorium a few weeks
before he passed out from a morphine overdose.

Local North Beach residents volunteer to help with the initial clean up

One section of the downstairs at the new 5,000 square foot space


David, Annie & Estelle design and plan the new space.

Bree and Wes Flew In from Pennsylvania to Help Ronnie


Dan, Richard and Ronnie Know How To Paint!


Early Morning James, Michael and Brian Tackle the Long Wall.



Francesca and Amy are Having Too Much Fun!


Howie, Amy, Judith and Richard are Dancing to the Beat!


Richard Licked Too Many Icy Light Poles as a Kid


Tony and Jerry Attack the High Ground


The Place is Starting to Take Shape!



Brian Covering The Old Sign with Primer.


Tom Gives the Counters a New Look.


Ronnie, Jerry & Brian Tackling Another Wall.


Estelle and Francis Creating a Textured Effect.


Hello Up There!


Francis and Tom Trading Stories.


The Neighbors at the Hungry I are Very Friendly.


Brian Really Stepped In It This Time.


The Beat Show at The SF Public Library.

Jerry & John Performing at The SF Public Library.


Jerry & John Meet Up with Al hinkle (Big Ed Dunkle from OTR) and His Daughter Dawn.


The Regulars at The Caffe Trieste Singing in the Sun.



The Heart and Soul of North Beach.


We Can't wait to see you there!

Back to Donation Page