San Francisco neighborhoods are diverse and ever-changing—some of our old boroughs have even gone without a trace. Remember Carville-by-the-Sea? Of course you don't.

Once upon a time, in fin de siecle SF, there stood a bohemian community on the edge of town made entirely of abandoned rail cars. In what is present day Ocean Beach/Outer Sunset, Carville gave concrete meaning to the word outlandish, and felt as San Francisco as tiny house or #vanlife moment does today. As home to some of the city's earliest adventurists, artists, anarchists and entrepreneurs, Carville is an old school reminder of why we love this town.

From Shady Clubhouses to a Full-Fledged Neighborhood

  

via SFPL History Annex

The majority of homes were used as clubhouses, cottages for family day trips, love shacks for secret affairs, and even hiding places for certain shady city officials; but after the earthquake, more permanent residents soon arrived.