San Francisco a little guide
It's an odd thing, but anyone who disappears is said to be seen in San Francisco. It must be a delightful city and possess all the attractions of the next world. Oscar Wilde
Dedicated to the incredibly nice homeless man I met in front of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in 2012. He told me about a puppy he found and named Victoria Secret. I love you, San Francisco.
Golden Gate Bridge
I
t’s not actually golden, you know. It’s orange, but The Orange Bridge doesn’t have the
same ring as the Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the Seven
1.7
Wonders of the modern world. It is an iconic
HISTORY
dollars it took to build the bridge
It was opened in 1937 after a four-year treacherous tides. It took more than 10 years in planning due to opposition of the bridge, but only four years in actual construction. The Golden Gate Bridge brought the communities
200,000 people
walked the bridge at its opening
of San Francisco and Marin counties
3
closer together.
IN FILMS Big Hero 6 (2014) Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Monsters Vs. Aliens (2009) Hulk (2003)
PERSONAL The first time I went to the bridge I thought, “this isn’t as orange as it looks on TV.” It was a magical experience walking the ole GGB and I was definitely not out of breath after the trek. Definitely not.
total length bridge spanned
35 million
landmark in San Francisco, California.
struggle against relentless winds, fog, rock and
miles
babies born at the bridge; all boys
7,500 tons
weight the bridge has lost since opening
1994
seventh wonder year the bridge was inducted as a wonder
128
lights
roadway lights on the bridge
Lombard Street
A
merica’s crookedest street? Lombard
DID YOU KNOW
Street is a thing of fantasy and somewhat
→ The name Lombard has no link to San
of a Tim Burton-esque nightmare. San Francisco already has the steepest hills in the country, they had to add the crookedest as an icing on top.
HISTORY The curvy block of Lombard Street was
Francisco history. It is named after a street in Philadelphia. → Lombard Street’s switchbacks were built to increase the safety of the street. → Lombard Street is not even the “crookedest” street in San Francisco. That title technically belongs to Vermont Street.
designed in 1922. It was first proposed by property owner Carl Henry to reduce the hill’s
PERSONAL
grade which was too steep for most vehicles.
Thank goodness for my cab driver for going
Lombard Street runs from the Presidio
turtle speed on Lombard Street. I remember
all the way to the Embarcadero, passing
my stomach dropping halfway through and
through Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, and Cow
my mother protesting to get out of the car
Hollow. It contains eight sharp turns and is
so she could photograph whilst I hold on for
surrounded by Russian Hill mansions and well
my dear life. The crookedest street lived up
maintained landscaping.
to its name to me.
Painted Ladies
R
emember the opening credits on Full
HISTORY
House where the Tanner Family drives
The Painted Ladies of San Francisco are a row
through the city to have a picnic? This is
of Victorian houses located on Steiner Street
where they sat for that classic 90’s scene.
and across from Alamo Square. It was built
“HOTDOG!” as Stephanie Tanner would
around the 1890s. Painted Ladies became
exclaim. The Painted Ladies are a must-see
an architectural term pertaining to Victorian
in San Francisco for its Victorian style house
and Edwardian houses across the country that
vividly painted side by side.
are colorfully painted. The houses on Steiner Street are the most popular and a famous
IN FILMS
attraction of the city. They have appeared
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
in media, postcards and photographs of the
Princess Diaries (2001)
city, including an estimated 70 movies, TV
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
programs, and ads.
The Woman in Red (1984)
1978 year
the term “Painted Ladies� was coined
3
48,000
colors and more used on the houses
houses
in Victorian and Edwardian styles were built
3.5
million dollars estimated value as of 2016
1906 year
of the earthquake, Painted Ladies survived it
H
ave you ever been on a bridge that
FEATURES
essentially looks like an upside down
Rock Garden
‘U’? Well the Japanese Tea Garden offers
Moon Bridge
that! They are called arched drum bridge and
Treasure Tower Pagoda
they are the coolest and craziest thing I have
Tea House
ever seen.
HISTORY PERSONAL
The Japanese Tea Garden was originally
When I visited the gardens, I didn’t realize
created as a temporary Japanese style garden
what I was going into. All I saw was a piercing
exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter
red pagoda sticking out of a gated space.
International Exposition. After closed, architect
Going inside the Japanese Tea Garden was so
Makoto Hagiwara approached superintendent
calming and tranquilizing. All you hear are the
John McLaren with the idea of turning it into a
koi pond waters rippling and the serenity of
permanent park. Makoto became the official
the zen gardens.
caretaker of the property and expanded the size to five acres. He and his family lived in the garden until 1942 when they were forced to leave and move into internment camps.
Japanese Tea Garden
Palace of Fine Arts
Y
ou know that scene in Romeo and Juliet
IN FILMS
where they secretly meet so their families
The Five Year Engagement (2012)
wouldn’t know they were ignoring family rules?
The Rock (1996)
Well, this is where I imagined that happened.
Vertigo (1968)
The Palace of Fine Arts is as beautiful in
Sense8 (2015-)
daylight as it is at night when it is illuminated by the romantic lighting and warm sunset. A
HISTORY
hotspot if you ever want to meet up with your
Architect Bernard R. Maybeck designed
love one in secrecy. No one will tell.
the monumental structure in 1915 for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
PERSONAL
He was inspired by Roman and Greek ruins
The Palace of Fine Arts feels like a scene
architecture. San Francisco was celebrating
in a romantic Victorian film. Complete with
the completion of the Panama Canal as well
swans, lakes, eucalyptus trees, and lagoon.
as the city’s recovery from the turmoil of the
To complete that fantasy, I even witnessed a
terrible earthquake and fire of 1906. After the
picturesque wedding take place.
fair, most of the buildings at the exposition, which were mostly temporary, were torn down with the exception of the Palace of Fine Arts because the citizens of San Francisco felt it was just too beautiful and important to destroy.
"The Palace of Fine Arts is probably the last of the traditional pieces of architecture to survive the modern age.” Bernard R. Maybeck
F
armer’s market galore. The Ferry Building
HISTORY
comes alive during their market days. You
Opened in 1898, this new Ferry Building was
can socialize, you can shop and, of course,
succeeded the wooden one in 1875. It became
eat. There will be plenty of people there as it
the transportation center for anyone arriving
is renowned throughout the country as the top
by train or ferryboats. From the Gold Rush until
farmer’s market to visit.
the 1930s, arrival by ferryboat became the common way most travelers and commuters,
EAT HERE
except those coming from the Peninsula, could
Slanted Door
reach the city conveniently.
Gott’s Roadside MarketBar
OCSICNARF
NAS
FO
“The waterfront without the Ferry Tower would be like a birthday cake without a candle.” Herb Caen, SF Chronicle
Ferry Building TROP
A
lthough not technically in the San
HISTORY
Francisco, I had to include Muir Woods.
Located just 12 miles from the Golden Gate
It’s a majestic park to say the least. You feel like
Bridge, Muir Woods has trees ranging from
the tiniest person when you walk these woods.
400 to 800 years and heights up to 250 feet.
It’s the best place to go hiking, biking, and
Flat easy trails loop through the groves. Muir
other outdoorsy things your heart desires.
Woods National Monument was established on January 9, 1908 when President Theodore
PERSONAL
Roosevelt signed legislation to protect
Muir Woods has become my favorite national
an old-growth coast redwood forest from
park to date. I found myself constantly looking
destruction. It was named after John Muir,
up in amazement of the redwood trees. There
an environmental philosopher who helped
was even one carved out to where you could
establish the National Park System.
walk through it. I pretended like I was Bilbo Baggins, of course. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any rings.
“Going to the woods is going home.” John Muir
Muir Woods
F
ederal prison never sounded so cool.
HISTORY
Alcatraz Island is a cold and unforgiving
Alcatraz Island is about 1.5 miles offshore in
penitentiary. There are many talks of the
the San Francisco Bay. It got its name from
ghosts that haunt the island, a perfect
a Spanish explorer, Juan Manuel de Ayala
tourist spot for those who are not afraid
in 1775. The history of Alcatraz Island dates
of the supernatural.
back many years and it has served as a bird sanctuary, a Civil War military fortress, it
NOTED PRISONERS
housed the first lighthouse on the West Coast
Al Capone
but is most famous for the time it served as
George “Machine Gun” Kelly
Federal Penitentiary Prison commonly known
Alvin “Creepy” Karpis
as “The Rock.”
Whitey Bulger Robert Staud
Alcatraz Island
8
deaths murdered by inmates
1934 year ofďŹ cially became a federal prison
29
years of operation
1,576 criminals
amount housed
14 302
inmates attempted to escape; failed
capacity maximum number of inmates recorded
O
ne of the most notable landmarks in
HISTORY
San Francisco’s skyline is the Coit Tower.
Located on top of Telegraph Hill, the 210 foot
From here you can basically see the beauty
Coit Tower was built in 1933 with the financial
of the entire city. There are also murals to see
help of socialite, Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She died
around the landmark from local artists and well
in 1929 and left substantial sum of money “for
known ones such as Diego Rivera.
the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.” The art-deco tower is
PERSONAL
built of reinforced concrete and took five years
“Doesn’t it look like a gray cigarette?” That
to complete. The murals inside the tower’s
was my first thought about the tower, not so
base were painted in 1934 by a group of artists
inspiring. The murals inside are impeccable.
employed by the Public Works of Art Project.
After studying Mexican Art, I’ve become
Contrary to urban legend, the building was not
obsessed with murals. The Coit Tower is a
made to resemble a fire hose in tribute to the
must see landmark and the very top spot to
firefighters of the 1906 earthquake, although
get those classic Instagram shots of the city.
Lillie was a massive supporter.
Coit Tower
Chinatown
A
s every major city has their own
PERSONAL
Chinatown, what makes San Francisco’s
There is always something new to explore at
special is that it is the oldest one in North
Chinatown. My favorite are the restaurants and
America. It’s one of those obligatory stops
the jewelry shops. It feels like home not only
while visiting the city. Chinatown is where you
because of the food but also because of the
get a T-shirt for 5 dollars and then look across
market aspect.
the street at another vendor who is selling the same thing for a penny less. Bargains.
HISTORY
IN FILMS The Maltese Falcon (1941) Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Chinatown in San Francisco started during the
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
1850’s, when Chinese came for the Gold Rush,
The Dead Pool (1988)
and stayed on to run businesses.
Godzilla (2014)
,574 100 residents as of year 2000
1.34 1970
square miles 24 blocks of Chinese culture
year
gateway was designed
5
zip codes Chinatown overlaps
1848 year established
1906
year
biggest earthquake that destroyed most of the neighborhood
A
San Francisco trip would not be
THINGS TO DO
complete without the Fisherman’s Wharf
Bay Cruising
on the itinerary, or most specifically, Pier 39.
Sea Lion Sightings
There are souvenir shops all around and sea
Ripley’s Believe it Or Not
lions just basking in the sunshine.
Aquarium of the Bay
HISTORY
Madame Tussauds
The Fisherman’s Wharf began back in the
PERSONAL
Gold Rush days when Asian immigrants fished
Every time I visit San Francisco, I always
offshore and provided shrimp, oysters, and
make a trip to the Wharf. My favorite seafood
salmon to feed the hordes of Gold Rushers.
restaurant, Sally’s Famous Fishwich, is
Italian fishermen came next, and they set up
located here so I always make an obligatory
stands along the beach to sell crab, shrimp,
stop. There’s so many things to do that
oysters, and other seafood.
I end up spending the whole day there without noticing. There’s a new museum on Pier 15 called Exploratorium and I highly recommend it.
MANS W R E
S
CO
IS
OF
A
RF HA
FISH
Fisherman’s Wharf
N F C RAN
Transamerica Pyramid
A
nother notable landmark of San
HISTORY
Francisco’s skyline is the Transamerica
Located in the heart of the Financial District,
Pyramid. For those who are not architecture
the Transamerica Pyramid is San Francisco’s
connoisseurs, those two little extensions on
other famous icon besides the Golden Gate
each side have a technical term—wings.
Bridge. Architect William L. Pereira built the pyramid as the ideal shape for skyscrapers. It
DID YOU KNOW
offered the advantage of letting more air and
→→ The glass cap at the top of pyramid is
light in the streets below. The skyscraper was
roughly the size of a cubicle. →→ No press or filming is allowed on the 48th floor or in the building. →→ The building is covered in crushed white quartz, giving it its pure white color. →→ There are 48 floors, 15 passenger elevators, 3 freight elevators, and 3,678 windows.
finished in 1972, has a height of 260 meters (85 feet) and is still the tallest building in the San Francisco skyline.
SOURCES History.com Sftodo.com Sfrecpark.org Sanfrancisco.travel Japaneseteagardensf.com Ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
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