Palace of Fine Arts
Built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition, the Palace of Fine Arts is San Francisco architect's version of Roman ruin. The architect, Bernard Maybeck, designed this centerpiece. This structure slowly decayed for years. A city benefactor donated funds to restore it in 1962. The restoration was completed in 1969.
THE PRESIDIO
Nomad populations of the Ohlone tribe of the Miwok linguistic group originally inhabited the San Francisco bay area. On June 27, 1776, the Spanish explorer, Jean Bautista de Anza, officially set on the shores of the bay and took possession of this area. He immediately began building the first edifice in the city: the fort known as the Presidio. A few months later, a Franciscan monk built the first mission which was dedicated to his patron saint. Therefore, the city was named after this event. Soon, merchant ships were obliged to make a stop in San Francisco due to the profitable trade in pelts. In 1821, Mexico declared its independence from Spain. In 1847, California became a territory of the United States. Since the Gold Rush, the population and the economy expanded.
Golden Gate Bridge
Highway 101 between San Francisco and Marin Counties
Completed in 1937, this suspension bridge connects San Francisco to Marin County. It took 4 years of construction. It opened officially to pedestrian traffic only on May 27 and to vehicular traffic on May 28. The 2-mi span and its 750-foot towers can withstand winds of more than 100 mph. Joseph B. Strauss was chief engineer and Clifford Paine, construction supervisor of the project. This man-made structure cost $33 million in total. The sum was paid off by bridge tolls in 1971. The maintenance staff includes 17 steel workers and 38 painters. Unlike the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge remained undamaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
Bay Trail
This 4.3 miles (6.9 kilometers) easy trail includes the Golden Gate Promenade and the Crissy Field.
Golden Gate Promenade
This 3.3 miles promenade is a great place to walk, jog, bike or picnic.
Crissy Field
Named in honor of Major Dana Crissy, this former U.S. Army airfield is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in SF. It is the military's first Air Coast Defense Station in the Pacific Coast. The army built hangars, workshops and a garage along the southern edge.
Below is one of the eight dynamic steel sculptures by Mark di Suvero.
Batteries to Bluffs Trail
This 0.7 mile (1.9 km) trail explores the historic gun batteries and the wild flowers along the cliffs. It is only for pedestrians. The difficulty varies from moderate to difficult due to many stairs.
The Batteries
Completed in 1873, Battery West, the first emplacement for new artillery positions on the coastal bluffs behind Fort Point, was armed with 12 15-inch Rodman cannons. During the 1890's, Battery West was almost completely destroyed. 8-inch Rodman cannons were installed on Battery East during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Today, this site has a beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge, SF Bay and downtown.
Battery Chamberlin
Lighter, stronger and more powerful defense artillery was developed in 1904. Today only the last 6-inch of the gun remains on this site.
Coastal Trail
This 2.7 miles (4.4 km) trail is for both pedestrians and cyclists. It connects to Bay Trail and includes Baker Beach.
Baker Beach
West of the Golden Gate Bridge is Baker Beach. A sandy staircase leads to the Pacific Ocean. This beach is also a nudist spot.
El Camino del Mar
Beautiful and wealthy residential properties are located on this street.
China Beach
In SF, most beaches have strong currents which make swimming dangerous. There is a small deck for sunbathing. Local residents named China Beach after the Chinese fishermen camped on this beach.
Lands End
The northwestern corner of the San Francisco is home to a wild and windy 3.4-mile trail. It links to the ruins of Sutro Baths.
Stone Labyrinth
Inspired by the classic seven-circuit Chartres labyrinth, the artist Eduardo Aguilera built this hidden stone maze at Lands End in 2004. (This labyrinth is not officially approved by Land's End National Recreation Area. The trail leading to the maze is risky.)
Sutro Baths
Cliff House
The original Cliff House was built in 1863 as a resort by the ocean. Over the years, it became a hangout place for the mobs. On Christmas Day in 1894, the structure burned down. In 1895, Comstock millionaire Adolph Sutro built a Gothic wooden castle on the site. Next to this family resort, he opened the Sutro Baths, a three-acre spa, inspired by the bathhouses of ancient Rome. Below the beautiful colored-glass canopy, there were 6 saltwater swimming pools. Within a year, the complex burned down and followed suit in 1966. The Cliff house is rebuilt in 1909. Today, the bathhouse is in ruins and the Cliff House holds a restaurant. My friend invited me for lunch at the Cliff House. We shared oysters as the entry. While eating a crab meat sandwich, I was enjoying the ocean view.
Ocean Beach
Apparently, the weather is often foggy here. I was lucky that the weather was sunny during my two visits. The Ocean Beach stretches 3 miles along the West coast of SF. It is the largest and best of SF's city beaches. However, due to extremely dangerous currents, swimming is not recommended. I saw people kitesurfing.
Dutch Windmill
The windmills were initially built in 1903 to irrigate the Golden Gate Park.
Sources: presidio.gov, nps.gov, sfmoma.org, sfstation.com, Art & History San Francisco
No comments:
Post a Comment