Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
a
Theater District
Map
5 B5.
@
2, 3, 38.
@
Powell-
Mason, Powell-Hyde.
v
J, K, L, M, N, T.
See Entertainment p251.
Gump's has the
largest collection in
the US of fine china
and crystal, which
includes famous
names such as
Baccarat, Steuben
and Lalique.
The store is also
celebrated for its
oriental treasures,
furniture, and the
rare works of art in
the art depart-
ment. The Asian art
is particularly fine,
especially the
remarkable jade
collection, which
enjoys a world-wide
reputation. In 1949
Gump's imported
the great bronze
Buddha and
presented it to the Japanese
Tea Garden
(see p149)
. Gump's
has an exclusive, refined
atmosphere and is frequented
by the rich and famous. It is
renowned for its colorful and
extravagant window displays.
Several theaters are located
near Union Square, all within a
six-block area. The two biggest
are on Geary Boulevard, two
blocks west of the square.
These are the Curran Theater,
built in 1922, and the Geary
Theater, built in 1909 and now
home to the American
Conservatory Theater (ACT ).
Drama has flourished in San
Francisco since the days of the
Gold Rush
(see pp26-7)
, and
great actors and opera stars
have been attracted to the city.
Isadora Duncan, the famous,
innovative 1920s dancer, was
born in the Theater District at
501 Taylor Street.
Central plaza of the Crocker Galleria
i
Crocker Galleria
Between Post, Kearny, Sutter, and
Montgomery Sts.
Map
5 C4.
Te l
393-
1500.
@
2, 3.
v
J, K, L, M, N, T.
See Shopping in San Francisco p233.
The Crocker Galleria was built
in 1982, by architects Skidmore,
Owings, and Merrill. Inspired
by the Galleria Vittorio
Emmanuelle in Milan, this
building features a central plaza
under a vaulting skylight roof.
More than 50 shops and
restaurants are housed here
on three floors, with displays
promoting the best of American
and European designers.
p
Union Square
Map
5 C5.
@
2, 3, 30, 38, 45.
v
J, K, L, M, N, T.
@
Powell-Mason,
Powell-Hyde.
Union Square was named for the
big, pro-Union rallies held there
during the Civil War of 1861-5.
The rallies galvanized popular
support in San Francisco for the
Northern cause, and this was
instrumental in bringing
California into the war on the
side of the Union. The square is
at the heart of the city's
shopping district and marks
the edge of the Theater
District. It is bordered on
the west side by the
famous Westin St.
Francis Hotel, and at
the center there is a statue
of
Victory
at the top of a
90-ft (27-m) column.
This monument
commemorates
Admiral Dewey's
victory at Manila
Bay during the
Spanish-American
War of 1898.
San Francisco's famous stores overlooking
Union Square
o
Gump's
135 Post St.
Map
5 C4.
Te l
982-1616.
@
2, 3, 4, 30, 38, 45.
v
J, K, L, M,
N, T.
@
Powell-Mason,
Powell-Hyde.
Open
10am-
6pm Mon-Sat, noon-5pm
Sun.
7
See Shopping in San
Francisco p237.
s
Union Square
Shops
Map
5 C5.
@
2, 3, 30, 38, 45.
@
Powell-Mason, Powell-Hyde.
v
J, K, L, M, N, T.
See Shopping p233.
Many of San Francisco's largest
department stores can be found
here, including Macy's, Sak's
Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus,
and Gump's
(see pp232-3),
as
well as grand hotels, antiquarian
bookshops, and boutiques.
The Union Square Frank Lloyd
Wright Building, at 140 Maiden
Lane, is the precursor to New
York's Guggenheim Museum.
Founded in 1861 by
German immigrants who
were former mirror and frame
merchants, this homegrown
San Francisco
department store is
an institution. Many
local couples register
their wedding present
list with the store.
Victory monument in
Union Square
