San Francisco Pays Tribute To Native Son With Jerry Garcia Street Dedication
The Grateful Dead guitarist spent five of his formative years living at 87 Harrington Street with his brother and grandparents.
By Scott Bernstein Apr 24, 2025 • 7:35 am PDT
Photo by Larry Hulst
The portion of Harrington Street in San Francisco’s Excelsior District where Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia grew up will soon be “Jerry Garcia Street” in his honor. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the tribute during a meeting on Tuesday, April 22.
The approved section of Harrington Street runs between Alemany Boulevard and Mission Street. Jerry Garcia and his brother Tiff moved into the home at 87 Harrington Street with their grandparents after the unexpected death of their father. Garcia spent five years living at the house and attended the nearby Monroe Elementary School as per SFist. A plaque was placed at the site by the City Of San Francisco in 2016.
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“Whereas, Jerry Garcia’s memory brings music, joy, and inspiration to the current residents of the Excelsior and San Francisco; and whereas, Harrington Street between Alemany Boulevard and Mission Street marks where Jerry Garcia grew; now, therefore, be it resolved, that to honor the many contributions of Jerry Garcia, there shall be a commemorative street naming of ‘Jerry Garcia Street’ on Harrington Street between Alemany Boulevard and Mission Street,” proclaimed the resolution put forward by Chyanne Chen, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco community will mark the street renaming with this year’s 23rd Annual Jerry Day, scheduled for August 2 at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in McLaren Park. The free community celebration coincides with several significant anniversaries: six decades since the Grateful Dead formed, three decades since Garcia’s death and twenty years since the amphitheater received its name.
“By uniting the diverse communities of San Francisco through Garcia’s music, we are creating something extraordinary for Jerry’s childhood neighborhood, the Excelsior District, McLaren Park, and the City and County of San Francisco,” Tom Murphy, founder of Jerry Day, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Melvin Seals and JGB and Stu Allen & Mars Hotel are among acts set to perform at the 2025 Jerry Day celebration. Garcia was born on August 1, 1945 and died on August 9, 1995 after a 30-year career with the Grateful Dead.
