Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Miss
WPA Murals
Coit Tower's lobby murals show San Franciscans during the Great Depression, gathered
at soup kitchens and dock-workers' unions, partying despite Prohibition, and poring over
multilingual library books - including Marx manifestos
.
These federally funded artworks
proved controversial in 1934, and authorities denounced their 27 artists as communist -
but San Franciscans embraced Coit Tower's bright, bold murals as beloved city land-
marks.
Viewing Platform
After the 20-minute walk uphill to Coit Tower, the wait and admission fee to take the
el-
evator
(adult/child $7/5)
to the top of the tower is well worth it. From the panoramic open-air
platform 210ft above San Francisco, you can spot two bridges, cable cars and skyline-de-
fining landmarks.
Filbert Street Steps
In the 19th century a ruthless entrepreneur began quarrying Telegraph Hill and blasting
away roads - much to the distress of his neighbors. City Hall eventually stopped the quar-
rying of Telegraph Hill, but the views of the bay from garden-lined, cliffside Filbert St
Steps are still (wait for it) dynamite.
Napier Lane
Along the steep climb from Sansome St up Filbert St Steps toward Coit Tower, stop for a
breather along Napier Lane, a wooden boardwalk lined with cottages and gardens where
wild parrots have flocked for decades.
Top Tips
›
To see more murals hidden inside Coit Tower's stairwell, take the free, docent-led tour at 11am on Saturdays.
