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Coit Tower is a 210-foot tower in Pioneer Park on Telegraph Hill, one of San Francisco’s seven hills. The tower was completed in 1933 using funds from Lillie Hitchcock Coit’s bequest to beautify the city of San Francisco.
Coit was an eccentric socialite who wore pants, smoked cigars, gambled in mens-only clubs and liked to chase fires. She is said to have pitched in to help the firemen fight a blaze near her home. This was considered unusual behavior for a lady in those days.
The tower is dedicated to the firefighters who died in the city’s long history of fires. Some say the structure resembles a fire hose nozzle, though the architect insisted that was a coincidence.
Visitors can buy a ticket to the observation deck on top. We rode in the old-time elvator, complete with elevator operator, to the top to see the panoramic views of the city and the bay.
Location: 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133
Designation: National Register of Historic Places
Date designated/established: 1/29/2008
Date of my visit: 8/16/2012
I’ve never even heard of this, but it looks like a neat place to visit!
Yes, it is interesting, and has great views
Did not know it is a National Park, love the views. Too bad San Francisco is so expensive.
It is on the National Register of Historic Places, not part of the NPS, though I believe the Department of Interior is responsible for adding sites to the register. Yes SF is such an expensive place to live
Thanks for the park status clarification. Top of my head question: it would be good to know how the tower is protected against earthquakes.
Actually I seem to have missed that this is also a National Historic Landmark, which is a higher distinction than NRHP. Some interesting facts in this article:
https://sf.curbed.com/2018/10/8/17950754/coit-tower-facts-history-85-birthday-landmark
I would assume that advances in architecture like diaganol trusses and rollers used in CA skyscrapers hadn’t happened yet in the 1930s, but there Coit wasn’t damaged in the big quake in the 80s that took out parts of the nearby Embarcadero, so perhaps it’s just a fortunate location.
Gorgeous pictures & I don’t know there’s a statue in front of it. I always see it from afar when in SF.
Thanks!