| 👁 Image | |
| 👁 Image The main floor of Noisebridge | |
| Formation | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Type | Hackerspace |
| Headquarters | 272 Capp Street San Francisco, CA 94110 |
| Location |
|
| Website | www.noisebridge.net |
Noisebridge is a hackerspace in San Francisco, California, founded in 2007.[1] It opened a physical space in 2008 and later operated on Mission Street before moving to 272 Capp Street in 2020.[2]
History
[edit]Noisebridge grew out of the Bay Area hacker community in 2007, at a time when similar spaces were being established in the United States with inspiration from European hackerspaces.[1] It opened a physical space in San Francisco in 2008 and later moved to a larger facility at 2169 Mission Street.[1][3] By the late 2010s, rising costs and uncertainty over its lease led the organization to look for a new home.[4][3] In 2020, it relocated from Mission Street to a larger warehouse on Capp Street in the Mission District.[2] Reporting in 2023 and 2025 described continued financial pressure at the Capp Street location, including budget deficits related to rent, renovation, and permitting costs, along with internal debate over fundraising and whether to begin charging mandatory fees.[2][5] In 2016, following public allegations of sexual misconduct against co-founder Jacob Appelbaum, Noisebridge barred him from its space.[6]
Organization and activities
[edit]Noisebridge operates as a community-run hackerspace and has been described in press coverage as emphasizing consensus-based governance and open access to shared tools and work areas.[1] Coverage of the space has described classes, workshops, and collaborative projects involving electronics, software, fabrication, sewing, and writing.[2] A 2010 project associated with Noisebridge, known as Spacebridge, received coverage for launching a high-altitude weather balloon carrying cameras and other electronics to approximately 70,000 feet.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Tweney, Dylan (29 March 2009). "DIY Freaks Flock to 'Hacker Spaces' Worldwide". Wired. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d Jarrett, Will (10 April 2023). "Noisebridge: 'The last free space in San Francisco'". Mission Local. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ a b Waxmann, Laura (21 April 2019). "Anarchist hacker collective Noisebridge may be pushed out of Mission District". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ Wenus, Laura (28 December 2017). "Noisebridge, facing displacement, plans to come back bigger and better". Mission Local. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ Newman, Marina (22 November 2025). "Free-for-all hackerspace Noisebridge is fighting to stay free". Mission Local. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ Loll, Anna Catherin (11 October 2016). "Power, secrecy and cypherpunks: how Jacob Appelbaum ripped Tor apart". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
- ^ Ganapati, Priya (12 February 2010). "DIY Group Sends $25 Balloon to 70,000 Feet". Wired. Retrieved 25 March 2026.
