Portsmouth Square, Square in Chinatown, San Francisco, California, US

Portsmouth Square is a 1.5-acre one-block plaza in Chinatown, San Francisco, bounded by Kearny, Washington, Clay and Walter Lum Place. Its level concrete surface holds curved lawns edged with rough stone blocks, square stone benches, round planters with small trees, and a curved wooden bench. A four-level, 500-space garage lies beneath, entered from Kearny.

Portsmouth Square was laid out in 1846 and is one of the oldest public spaces in San Francisco. The first American flag in the city was raised here, and two years later the discovery of gold was publicly announced at this spot, setting off the 1848 gold rush.

Portsmouth Square sits at the heart of Chinatown, where older men play cards and chess at the tables while families sit nearby and talk. Visiting the square gives a direct window into the daily life of San Francisco's Chinese American community.

The square is walkable from many parts of downtown San Francisco and sits right in the middle of Chinatown, making it easy to combine with a stroll through the neighborhood. Mornings tend to be calmer and a good time to find a seat at one of the outdoor tables.

Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of Treasure Island, spent many hours at this square in 1879 watching the passing crowds when he was still an unknown writer. A small monument in his honor still stands on the square today.