1978
- 909 members of the San Francisco-based People's Temple die, primarily from cyanide poisoning, at an agricultural project coined Jonestown in Guyana, following the murder of five others by Temple members at Port Kaituma, including United States Congressman Leo Ryan (pictured) of the Bay Area
- San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk are shot and killed in San Francisco City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White (news headline pictured)
- Retailer Banana Republic is founded in Mill Valley
- The Dead Kennedys are formed in San Francisco
- The French Laundry restaurant opens in Yountville in the Napa Valley
- The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is formed