It’s a different experience in the evening, when the crowds have dissolved and you can enjoy the twinkling SF lights over the bay
This 64m tower can be found in the Telegraph Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. Rising up above Pioneer’s Park, it was built in 1933 at the behest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit’s will. She left one third of her not insignificant estate for the civic beautification of her adored city. Just one of the things her generosity sponsored was this memorial tower.
Woman of the People
Built in the art deco style, the tower is made of unpainted reinforced concrete. There is an apocryphal story that the tower was built to resemble a fire hose nozzle, on account of Coit’s close affinity to the San Francisco firefighters of the day. However, apparently the resemblance is simply a coincidence.
Throughout her life Lillie Hitchcock Coit was recognised as an honorary firefighter. She was a wealthy socialite and one of the more eccentric figures in the San Francisco social scene. She chomped cigars and wore trousers long before they were considered socially acceptable things for women to do. From a young age she had chased the fires and firemen around town, and even today she is the matron saint of SF firefighters.
The tower itself is wrapped around with 1930s depression-era murals glorifying SF workers. Thanks to that public art, it was once denounced as communist, but is now a treasured landmark in the city. From the top you get extraordinary 360-degree panoramas of the downtown area and waterfront.
Immerse yourself in the heart of San Francisco, one of the most iconic cities in the world, on this private full-day tour where you will discover the history and culture of the city before embarking on a journey through some of its most famous landmarks, including a visit to Alcatraz Island to uncover the secrets of the infamous prison.
On your private tour of San Francisco, you will:
Your Private Full-Day Tour of San Francisco Highlights will take you through an urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves.
At the top of Nob Hill, soak up an extraordinary cityscape at cable car height. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis, and jogging trails.
Wander through some world-class shopping malls in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques.
Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, lined with seafood cafés, are home to basking sea lions, jugglers, and mime artists, with striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. Enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries on Pier 39 before your guide takes you to Pier 33, where you will board a pre-booked ferry ride to Alcatraz Island.
Please note: your guide will not be joining you on the island, as private guides are not permitted to operate on the island. On arrival at Alcatraz, take an audio tour at a leisurely pace to hear tales of notorious felons such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud in this former fort, a military prison and maximum-security federal penitentiary. Once you are finished exploring Alcatraz Island (most people spend about 2 hours), you can hop any return ferry to San Francisco, where you will be dropped off at Pier 33.
Dating back to 1776 and considered by many to be the USA’s most beautiful city, San Francisco - a.k.a. The City by the Bay - is a vibrant mix of exotic cultures, and is renowned worldwide for its liberal free-thinking ideals.
San Francisco’s strong historical bonds with Spanish America and Mexico are evident all over the city and reflected in its Hispanic population, vibrant arts, music, and festival scene.
On your private half-day tour, you will:
On this private half-day tour of the best of San Francisco, you will learn about the city’s foundation in the 18th century, when Spanish colonists settled the area during the gold-rush fever, to the city in the modern era, famous for its political activism and social inclusivity the world over.
See first-hand San Francisco’s colourful mix of quaint buildings and modern architecture in a stunning ocean-facing city.
Learn about San Francisco's long-standing progressive stance on activism: the city is credited with trailblazing the “Flower Power” peace movement, and powering the gay rights movement as one of the largest and most prominent LGBT communities in the world.
You will explore this fascinating urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis and jogging trails. Wander through some world-class shopping in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques.
Enjoy a historic cable car ride from one part of the city, over Nob Hill to the waterfront. At beautiful North Beach, known colloquially as Little Italy, soak up the ambience of the city’s lively historic Italian-American community.
Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf, lined with seafood cafes, is home to basking sea lions, jugglers and mime artists and enjoys striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, the infamous island prison on the sea, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
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