An intense climb to Coit Tower

The Coit Tower is known as one of the main attractions in San Francisco and is an observation tower built in 1933 that offers views of the city and the bay area. Located on Telegraph Hill, a hill originally called Alta Loma by the Mexicans, it was later also known as Goat Hill due to the various animals grazing on its slopes. It eventually changed its name to the current one in 1850 due to a semaphore installed at the summit that alerted the city's merchants to the arrival of ships through the Golden Gate Bridge. In the past, the hill was a neighborhood for immigrants living in wooden shacks and aspiring artists who appreciated the panoramic views. However, nowadays, these distinctive homes have become more modern, and the area has become one of the most sought-after residential areas in the city.

History

The Coit Tower, also known as the Lilian Coit Memorial Tower, is a 64-meter-tall white concrete tower shaped like a large fire hose nozzle located in the Telegraph Hill neighborhood. It offers a panoramic view of the city and San Francisco Bay. The tower was built in 1933 atop Telegraph Hill using the legacy of the millionaire Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an eclectic woman who lived from 1843 to 1929 and was famous for dressing as a man and her passion and respect for firefighters. Additionally, she wanted to beautify the city of San Francisco, and at the time of her death in 1929, she left various properties, $125,000, and some designs for the construction of properties that would enhance the city's views and please residents and tourists. The Art Deco-style tower was entirely constructed in unpainted concrete and was designed by architects Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Temple Howard. It was later dedicated to the volunteer firefighters who died in San Francisco's five major fires.

Inside the tower, visitors can admire socialist-inspired murals depicting urban life in the 1930s. Their creation was sponsored by a government-funded program aimed at employing artists during the Great Depression. Twenty-five artists collaborated to create a portrait of modern life in California. The paintings capture a wide range of scenes, from the bustling streets of the city's Financial District to factories, docks, and wheat fields that existed in the Central Valley at the time. The details in this set of murals are captivating, including a car accident, an immigrant family camping by a river, and various references to newspapers, books, and magazines. Overall, the work conveys a sense of frustration, satire, and extravagance, addressing various political issues. When the murals were painted, they generated significant controversy among the city's residents, and the tower even had to be closed for several months. However, today they are a source of local pride.

Due to its prime and elevated location, the Coit Tower offers a spectacular panoramic view of San Francisco and the San Francisco Bay. It is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, known for its historical significance and iconic visual presence in San Francisco's urban landscape. To reach the tower's area, you need to climb a steep staircase known as the Filbert Steps from the Levi's Plaza area.

How to climb

The Filbert Steps are a famous and very steep staircase with over 500 narrow steps that connect the Telegraph Hill area at the Embarcadero (down below) to the Coit Tower (located high above). The steps are initially made of concrete, but they gradually transition into wooden steps, surrounded by lush gardens that provide incredible views of San Francisco Bay and the city center. Until 1949, the stairs were completely abandoned and covered in trash until Grace Marchant, a Hollywood stuntwoman who moved to the area at the age of 63, requested permission to burn the rubbish and start planting gardens on the terraced land alongside the steps. After a long period of burning the rubbish and planting vegetation, the Grace Marchant Gardens emerged, which are the gardens located on the sides of these stairs. Nowadays, all the garden vegetation is maintained and funded by the residents living in the houses along the various steps, with some houses only accessible from this staircase.

An interesting and amusing fact is that the gardens bordering the Filbert Steps attract a wide variety of birds, with the most common residents being wild red and green parrots. After passing a sign on the stairs that reads 'Napier Lane,' if you pay attention, you can find the parrots, which are usually perched on the branches of trees with red berries. The exact reason and origin of the parrot flock in the area are not known for certain, but it's believed that they may have been domestic birds from a local residence that were released due to their noisy nature and eventually mated over time.

The ascent via the Filbert Steps is slightly challenging, and it takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes to complete the journey from the Embarcadero area to the higher region where the Coit Tower is located. It's best to take your time while making this journey and enjoy the truly incredible views of the area.

General information

For the sake of time and to save money, I chose not to go to the top of the Coit Tower. Furthermore, based on several reviews I read before the trip, the views from the top of the tower are not significantly different from those at the base, which is free to access. From the base, you can take several photos of the Coit Tower itself, the views, and also a statue of Christopher Columbus, the explorer responsible for the discovery of the American continent in 1492, located in front of the tower.

🏷️ Price: $10,00/person

⏰ Opening hours: 10.00h to 17.00h

The Coit Tower, with its rich history, spectacular panoramic views, and iconic murals, is an emblematic landmark of San Francisco that celebrates the city and its cultural diversity. If you're visiting San Francisco, be sure to make a quick stop at this attraction, and you can easily combine your itinerary with a visit to nearby Chinatown.

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