
Portsmouth Square in San Francisco
Portsmouth Square holds the distinction of being situated on the same site as the first known public square built in the 1800s when it was still Mexican land.
It is home to many historical events including the building of the first Californian Public School and the discovery of gold. California's induction into the US as the 31st state was also celebrated here.
Today, however, Portsmouth Square (situated in and reflecting the life of San Francisco's Chinatown) though still a bustling public square, suffers from a lot of problems including poor upkeep and vandalism. It has also become a haunt of the homeless as well as a haven for rats.
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/california/san-francisco/review-176831.html
http://www.yelp.com/biz/portsmouth-square-san-francisco
http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/attractions/portsmouthsquare.html

