On a half-block street formerly named Bowie Street, 52-54 Kissling recalls late 19th century San Francisco, when SOMA was a bustling part of the city filled with businesses, homes, and apartment buildings. A 2-flat building was certainly on this lot, as shown on the Sanborn Fire Map of 1887 (when the street was named, Bowie, with more homes nearby than flats. Although many homes were eventually replaced by larger apartment buildings or business warehouses, 52-54 Kissling retained its original character, with some exterior details still intact. The building has seen many interior transformations, including having been used as an art gallery in the 1980s, and awaits a new owner to transform the interior once more.