San Francisco Cults: A Guide To The City's Alternative Communities (PHOTOS)

A Guide To Our Most Bizarre 'Alternative Communities'

This article comes to us courtesy of The Bold Italic.

Some people run away to join the circus. Others run away to San Francisco. Those of us who live here know it's actually the same thing.

Since its days as a bawdy port city built on gold dust and dungarees, San Francisco has always been a town where open-mindedness reigns and people live whatever life they see fit. Because of this, the city's history is colored with subcultures that have looked at the world around them and thought, Hell, we can do better than that.

Below is a short list of a few of the many alternative communities that came to fruition somewhere within these 49 square miles. Some are cults, some are pranksters, and some are churches in their own right, but none of them could've come about without San Francisco being a city that encourages dreamers to dream and players to play.

The Bohemian Club (1872-present)

A Guide To SF's Alternative Communities

For more of San Francisco brought to life, visit The Bold Italic.

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