Goodbyes and Hellos

We bid farewell to our 2026 Heritage in the Neighborhoods month in Potrero Hill. But also:

• Big leadership announcement!
• The last Heritage Happy Hour of 2026
• A new Where-Am-I? photo
• Save the date for lots of holiday happenings

Welcome Katherine!

New leadership coming to SF Heritage

Above: Haas-Lilienthal House

Change is afoot at San Francisco Heritage! Our current board chair, Katherine Petrin, will step into the role of president and CEO when Stephen “Woody” LaBounty retires at the end of 2026.

Katherine has 30 years of history and engagement with SF Heritage, first coming to the organization as a summer intern in 1995! She is ready to jump in and advocate for the cultural and built resources that make San Francisco so special. Meanwhile, Woody plans to spend his retirement writing and traveling, while continuing to lend his distinctive voice to supporting SF Heritage.

“It has been a singular honor to be a part of SF Heritage,” says Woody, who will continue to assist on diverse and ongoing special projects in 2027. “No mission is dearer to an eternal San Franciscan like me, and I will always be a champion and supporter of the organization.”

Katherine echoes those sentiments: “As a fellow eternal San Franciscan, I’m looking forward to this role and to further elevating the successes SF Heritage has achieved during Woody’s tenure, including development of a fantastic staff, impactful, engaging programs, and healthy finances supported by long-time friends and donors.”

Potrero Hill Wrap Up

One more fun event for Heritage in the Neighborhoods

Above: Katherine Petrin and Woody LaBounty at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House

We hope you enjoyed the emails, social media posts, and special events we shared all across October. If you want to catch up, the Special City posts are available:

Welcome to Potrero Hill Month
Potrero Hill: Island and Pasture
Potrero Hill as Refuge and Home
Potrero Hill Maxes Out
Potrero Hill: Light and Steel

This past Sunday, Special City Landmark Club members got to enjoy a special after-hours tour of the new Pier 70 Time Machine. Neighborhood experts Peter Linenthal and Steven Herraiz guided us through the fascinating objects on display and shared the stories behind them. The museum is now open on weekends from noon to 4pm.

And we have one last thing. Get even more Potrero Hill history direct from the source, at the 27th Annual Potrero Hill & Dogpatch History Night:

The deep dive into neighborhood history happens in the atrium of Pier 70’s Building 12 this Saturday, November 7. The (free!) program starts at 7:00 p.m., but come by starting at 5:30 p.m. for pizza, music, and mingling.

SoMa's Civic Commons

Join us at 111 Minna Gallery

Above: 111 Minna Gallery in the South of Market. Photo courtesy of the Legacy Business Registry.

This month’s Heritage Happy Hour takes us to the first contemporary art gallery in the city’s downtown. But it is so much more than just a gallery...

Open since 1993, 111 Minna Gallery is a bar, event space, and premiere contemporary art gallery that has worked to support local and national artists of every level and discipline including visual artists, musicians, theater performances, and performance artists of every kind. For decades, it has served as a civic commons, hosting neighborhood events for a myriad of cultural and civic institutions.

Some of today’s most celebrated artists had their first big show at Minna, and founder Eiming Jung helped launch the early careers of individuals who would go on to build powerful, culture-shifting companies. The space serves as a creative incubator for the exchange of ideas and for new collaborations. In 2000, the 111 Minna Gallery incorporated the 140 2nd Street address and became the larger footprint that is currently used today. 111 Minna Gallery joined the Legacy Business Registry in 2025.

Register now to join us for this free gathering on Thursday, November 12 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. This will be the final Heritage Happy Hour for 2026, so be sure to come by and say hello!

Gazing Upwards

Where Am I?

The mystery photo above is a close-up of a special place in San Francisco. Where are these flags flying? The one on the right might be a clue. The full photo and the site's history will be revealed in the next Special City email, but only for our Local Hero and Landmark Club members! (Sign up or upgrade your account here)

Save the Date: Holiday Happenings

This year’s Holiday Open House at the Haas-Lilienthal House will take place on Sunday, December 6, and will also include our final 2026 Page Memorial Lecture!

David Gallagher, with help from Woody LaBounty, will give an overview on the treasures in SF Heritage’s archives. We will also take a deeper look at some of the 1,000 slides scanned this year (thanks to the donors to our first Archives Project). More details to come, but mark your calendars.

The Halloween transformation of the Haas-Lilienthal House into The House of Weird was a great success! Our partners at The Gregangelo Museum are already busy planning a series of festive holiday experiences in December, including teas, a holiday bazaar, and immersive theater. We’ll have all the info for you in the next Special City.

Regular public tours of Haas-Lilienthal House are still on pause through the end of the year. However, we will have house tours on three dates in November: Nov 18 (Wed), Nov 21 (Sat), and Nov 22 (Sun). Get tickets on our website.

Next Special City we will have the Where-Am-I answer, lots of holiday-happening details, and some news on San Francisco historic districts and landmarks.

Thank you for your strong support of our nonprofit mission and we hope to see you around town soon!

Founded in 1971, San Francisco Heritage is a 501(c)(3) membership organization that preserves and enhances San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. Our programs and partnerships interpret, share, and celebrate the shared histories, landscapes, and communities of the city to instill optimism, belonging, and purpose.