You’ve seen the shot. It is arguably the most famous piece of B-roll in television history. The Tanner family is sitting on a checkered blanket, enjoying a picnic in a lush green park while a row of impeccably maintained Victorian homes stands guard in the background. It’s the quintessential image of 1990s wholesome Americana. If you search for the painted ladies san francisco full house location today, Google Maps will likely point you straight to Alamo Square Park.
But here is the thing: the Tanners didn't live there.
Honestly, it’s one of the most persistent travel misconceptions in California. People fly from across the globe, Uber to Steiner Street, and stand in front of those "Postcard Row" houses thinking they are looking at Danny Tanner’s front door. They aren't. While the Painted Ladies are inseparable from the show's identity, the actual house used for the exterior shots of the Tanner residence is about a mile away in a completely different neighborhood.
The Great Geography Mix-up
Let's clear the air. The "Painted Ladies" refers to the row of seven Victorian houses on Steiner Street, specifically the ones built between 1892 and 1896 by developer Matthew Kavanaugh. They are stunning. They are iconic. But they were only used in the opening credits to establish the "vibe" of San Francisco.
The real painted ladies san francisco full house—the one with the red door—is located at 1709 Broderick Street in Lower Pacific Heights.
If you walk from Alamo Square to the Broderick Street house, you’ll realize just how much the show played with geography. In the sitcom universe, these spots are basically next door. In reality? It’s a 20-minute uphill hike. San Francisco locals often find it funny to watch tourists wander around Alamo Square looking for the house with the red door, only to realize that none of the seven sisters actually match the home from the show.
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Why do we call them Painted Ladies anyway?
The term isn't actually specific to Full House. It was popularized in 1978 by writers Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen in their book Painted Ladies: San Francisco's Resplendent Victorians. It refers to any Victorian or Edwardian house that is repainted in three or more colors to embellish its architectural details. Before the 1960s, many of these homes were depressing shades of battleship gray, leftover from WWII surplus paint. It took a "colorist" movement to bring the bright pinks, golds, and blues back to the city.
The Steiner Street row just happened to be the most photogenic example. When the producers of Full House were scouting locations in the late 80s, they needed a visual shorthand for "San Francisco Middle Class." Alamo Square offered that in spades.
The Broderick Street Reality Check
If you make the trek to 1709 Broderick Street, don't expect to see Uncle Jesse leaning out the window. For years, the house didn't even have its signature red door. The homeowners who lived there after the show ended were, quite frankly, exhausted by the fans. They painted the door a neutral color and grew tall hedges to reclaim some semblance of privacy.
Everything changed in 2016. Jeff Franklin, the creator of Full House, actually bought the house for about $4 million. He had big plans. He wanted to turn it into a shrine for fans, even painting the door back to that iconic "Tanner Red."
But San Francisco neighbors are notoriously protective of their peace. The permit battles were legendary.
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Ultimately, Franklin sold the property in 2020 for over $5 million. The new owners have since renovated the interior, which—spoiler alert—looks absolutely nothing like the set used in the show. Remember, Full House was filmed on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, hundreds of miles away. The interior of the Broderick Street house is actually quite narrow and modern, lacking the sprawling staircase and the weirdly large kitchen that somehow accommodated three grown men and three kids.
Why Alamo Square Still Wins
Even if the "real" house is elsewhere, the painted ladies san francisco full house association isn't going anywhere. There is something magical about sitting on the grass at Alamo Square at sunset. As the sun dips behind you, it hits the "Seven Sisters" and makes the gold leaf on their facades pop against the backdrop of the modern Salesforce Tower and the Transamerica Pyramid.
It's a contrast of two San Franciscos: the ornate, wooden past and the steel, tech-heavy future.
Visiting Tips for the Modern Fan
If you're planning a pilgrimage, don't just take a selfie and leave. There's a whole etiquette to this.
- Parking is a nightmare: Seriously. Don't try to park a rental car right on Steiner Street. You'll circle for forty minutes and probably get a ticket. Park a few blocks away in the Fillmore District and walk.
- The "Full House" Shot: To get the exact angle from the credits, you need to stand on the grassy slope of Alamo Square Park, roughly midway up the hill, looking East/Northeast.
- Respect the Residents: People actually live in these houses. They aren't museums. Don't sit on their stairs. Don't peer in the windows. It sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people forget their manners when nostalgia hits.
- The Broderick House is Private: If you go to the 1709 Broderick Street location, be even more discreet. It’s a quiet residential block with very little sidewalk space.
The Cultural Impact of a 30-Second Clip
It is wild how much weight those opening credits carry. Full House ran from 1987 to 1995, and yet, decades later, the painted ladies san francisco full house connection remains the primary driver of tourism to Alamo Square. Even the sequel, Fuller House, leaned heavily into this imagery, despite most of the show being a CG-heavy production filmed in Los Angeles.
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The show sold a version of San Francisco that was sunny, safe, and accessible. While the city has changed—prices have skyrocketed and the "Tanner" lifestyle would now require a combined household income of about $600,000—the houses remain frozen in time. They are a physical anchor to a sitcom era that felt simpler.
Beyond the Tanners
If you love the architecture, don't stop at Steiner Street. San Francisco is home to roughly 48,000 Victorian and Edwardian houses.
- Check out the Haas-Lilienthal House: It's a museum, so you can actually go inside.
- Walk the Haight-Ashbury: You'll find "Painted Ladies" there that are way more psychedelic and colorful than the ones in the show.
- Visit the "Four Seasons" houses on Waller Street: They are just as beautiful but rarely have the crowds.
The Painted Ladies are more than just a backdrop for a TV show about a widowed dad and his eccentric roommates. They are survivors. They made it through the 1906 earthquake and the urban renewal projects of the 1960s that tore down thousands of similar homes in the Western Addition.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Visit
To truly experience the painted ladies san francisco full house vibe without the frustration of typical tourist traps, follow this flow:
- Start at 1709 Broderick Street: See the "real" house first. It’s a quick 5-minute stop. Take your photo of the exterior and move on.
- Walk to Fillmore Street: Grab a coffee at Jane on Fillmore or a pastry at Salt & Straw. This gives you a taste of the actual neighborhood the Tanners would have frequented.
- End at Alamo Square: Head to the park for the "Postcard Row" view. Bring a blanket and some sourdough bread. If you're there on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Bay Bridge.
- Check the Weather: San Francisco’s "Karl the Fog" loves to hide the Painted Ladies. Use a local weather app like Mr. Chilly to see if the park is clear before you commit to the trip.
Ultimately, the magic of the Painted Ladies isn't that they were in a show. It’s that they still exist at all. In a city that is constantly reinventing itself through tech booms and busts, those seven houses on Steiner Street remain a colorful, stubborn reminder of a different era. Whether you’re a die-hard Full House fan or just an architecture nerd, they are worth the hill climb.