In San Francisco ran from the 1940’s to 1969. It was located between Mission and Valencia Street. The fire that burnt down AIC in 1969 played a significant role in the Alcatraz Movement. Activists pushed to create a new American Indian Center and Native American school on Alcatraz which remained open until June of 1971. From 1969 through 1970 the AIC also held an office located space at 16th and Guerrero Street. From 1970 to 1988 the American Indian Center was located at 225/229 Valencia Street. This location offered a wide variety of services, programing, and resources to the community. This space closed in 1988.

In the 1990’s the Indian Center of All Nations (ICAN) was located at 16th and Mission Street. ICAN closed in 1995 due to lack of steady funding. The Centers over the years have been ran by several different community members, but they all had the same goals to provide a space, resources, and programing for American Indians in the San Francisco Bay Area.

From 2005 to 2007 a group of community members began meeting with District Supervisors at City Hall and with the San Francisco Arts Commission to advocate for program funding and a new community space. In 2012 Mayor Ed Lee attended the Dancing Feather Pow Wow and announced his intentions to help find a new home and funding for an American Indian Center. As a response to Mayor Lee’s announcement, an American Indian Advisory Council formed in 2013. This Council met and still meets the last Saturday of every month to discuss the future and vision of an American Indian Cultural Center. The San Francisco Arts Commission and local Native American based funding initiatives provided funds to help recreate the American Indian Cultural Center (AICC). The AICC is composed of the American Indian Advisory Council, a functioning Board, Executive Director, a Program Manager, and interns. In 2019 the American Indian Cultural Center was formally recognized as a virtual Cultural Center. AICC is currently in the process of obtaining 501(c)(3) status.

The buildings that housed the various American Indian Center locations and the surrounding areas hold great importance to the community and have provided a home for historically and politically significant events. AIC was the meeting place for Bay Area American Indian organizations and home of the United Bay Indian Council, which brought together 30 clubs into one large Council. The American Indian Movement originally held an office at AIC before moving to the International Indian Treaty Council on Mission Street.

Across the street from the AIC on Valencia, Al Smith owned a trading post where the Native community came together to sell arts, crafts, and beadwork.  Other meeting spots in the area included places such as Aunt Mary’s, a cafe across from the Roxie Theater where the Native community would gather for breakfast, and the Rainbow Cattle Company, a popular Native American bar on Duboce & Valencia Streets. Muddy Waters and Modern Times were popular spots for artists, poetry nights, and speaking engagements. These community centers and gathering places reflect just a fraction of the strong history and cultural connection to the San Francisco Bay Area.