One Telegraph Hill
(at the top of Telegraph Hill)
(415) 362-0808
Built in 1933 to honor the
city's volunteer firefighters, picturesque Coit Tower stands 210
feet tall above Telegraph Hill. This Gold Rush souvenir was
named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an heiress who liked to dress
in men's clothing to better gain access to the more interesting
corners of the city.
Legend has it that during
the early days of the Gold Rush, Lillie deserted her own wedding
and chased down the street after her favorite fire engine,
Knickerbocker No. 5, in her bridal gown and veil. She left the
city $125,000 when died in 1929 at the age of 86, to
"expend in an appropriate manner … to the beauty of San
Francisco."
The walls inside the lobby
are covered in 19 Depression-era murals in the style of Diego
Rivera, commissioned by the U.S. government as a part of its
Public Works of Art project. The 25 painters, some of whom were
fresh from art school while others were out-of-work professional
fine artists, were paid $38 a week to create the murals.
Ride the elevator to the
top of the tower to enjoy breathtaking views of the Golden Gate
Bridge, Bay Bridge and Alcatraz island. The slightly larger,
wilder island to the east of Alcatraz is beautiful Angel Island,
a hikers' paradise with amazing views of the city.
You can often find artists
at work at Pioneer Park, at the foot of the tower, where you can
pick up a small painting of the bay below at a reasonable price.
City Guides, run by the
San Francisco Public Library (415-557-4266), leads free tours
every Saturday at 11 a.m., including the second-floor murals
that are normally closed to the public.
One of the best ways to
reach Coit Tower is via two old-fashioned stairways — an
exertion, but worth the effort. The rustic wooden Filbert Steps
wind through hillside gardens, and the concrete Greenwich Stairs
give plenty of chances to take a break and enjoy the view of San
Francisco — many visitors walk up the Filbert Steps and down
the Greenwich Stairs.
Film noir buffs will want
to take a look at the fantastic Art Deco building and the
unending stairs featured in the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren
Bacall 1947 classic "Dark Passage" at 1360 Montgomery
St., near the base of the Filbert steps.
Hours:
Open daily
Oct.-Mar.:10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
April-Sept.: 10 a.m. -
7:30 p.m.
Admission/fees:
Adult: $3.75
Children: $1.50
Seniors: $2.50
COIT
TOWER
ATTRACTIONS
