Historic Old Broadway Jail And Swiss American Hotel Chinatown North Beach San Francisco 2 Editorial Photo

During the lawless years of the San Francisco Gold Rush, the original building at 534 Broadway was the cities very first jail. This jail became very famous in 1856 when the murderer of a local newspaper editor was being held here. What made this famous was when the local vigilante committee surrounded the jail with not only riffles and shot guns, but even a cannon. The jailer had no choice but to release the prisoner, who was then hung two days later. During the 1906 Earthquake and fire, the building was so badly damaged, it had to immediately come down, to be replaced by the Swiss American Hotel in 1910. It was here, in 1965 that comedian Lenny Bruce was staying. A well known drug user by this time, his life and career were both spiraling out of control, when he went through the second floor window. Although he did survive the fall, if he fell, jumped or was pushed, we will never know as he died in the hospital shortly after. Today it is apartments owned and operated by the Chinatown Community Development Center, CDC. Danger. Safety. Housing.