City Lights Booksellers & Publishers

City Lights Booksellers & Publishers was founded in 1953 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and is an independent bookstore and small press strongly associated with the Beat Generation. The press famously published Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl, leading to a 1957 obscenity trial that became a landmark free-speech case. The bookstore at 261 Columbus Ave continues to operate in North Beach, hosting readings, events, and selling new and used books.