San Francisco A Little Guide

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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