Why So Many Motels on Lombard Street?
Bay Curious
Wenbin Fang's Podcast Playlist · KQED
Show Notes
Episode: Why So Many Motels on Lombard Street?
Pub date: 2025-10-09
Get Podcast Transcript →
powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarization
Lombard Street is famous for its winding brick lane, but beyond that iconic block lies something unexpected: a stretch of old-school motels. Why so many in one place? This week on Bay Curious, we explore how the growing popularity of automobiles – and the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge – transformed Lombard Street into a bustling hub for motor lodges. Then, we’ll head south to the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge to unpack its history.
Editors note: This episode has been updated to correct a street name error.
Additional Resources:
- Why Are There So Many Motels on San Francisco’s Lombard Street?
- The First San Mateo-Hayward Bridge Was a Big Deal in 1929
- Read the transcript for this episode
- Sign up for our newsletter
- Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest
- Got a question you want answered? Ask!
Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts
These stories were reported by Christopher Beale and Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Gabriela Glueck and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Olivia Allen-Price, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from KQED, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.