The Grateful Dead have been a San Francisco icon since the 1960s, and though their leader Jerry Garcia has since passed, they remain a symbol of the city. During the 60s they were the embodiment of the Hippie movement and a rallying symbol of peace and love. Even today, 50 years later, the city, especially the Haight Ashbury area, is full of tributes commemorating all the Dead have done for the city and for music in general. A walk down Haight street will greet you with a huge Jerry Garcia mural, sidewalk art, and the iconic skull logo at pretty much every turn. Gift shops sell memorabilia and t-shirts, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop sells “Cherry Garcia” ice cream, and record stores prominently display the Dead’s discography in their windows. Even those who know nothing of the Dead and their impact quickly realize that they are a cultural icon. But ironically, even with all this fanfare, very few people realize the Dead actually lived a block away up Ashbury Street.
During their heyday the Dead lived in a nondescript Victorian at 710 Ashbury where they penned many of their hits. The house today is a normal residence, but some dedicated fans have left tributes in the form of flowers or artwork.
