Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
q
Octagon House
2645 Gough St.
Map
4 E2.
Tel
441-
7512.
@
10, 41, 45, 47, 49, 70, 80, 90,
101.
Open
noon-3pm on second
Sun and second and fourth Thu
of the month, except Jan. Donation
suggested.
^
7
limited.
∑
nscda.com
r
Wave Organ
Map
4 D1.
@
30.
Sitting at the tip of the
breakwater that protects the
Marina is the world's most
peculiar musical instrument.
Built by scientists from the
Exploratorium
(see p94-5)
, the
Wave Organ consists of a
number of underwater pipes
that echo and hum with the
changing tides. Listening tubes
are imbedded in a mini-
amphitheater that has views
of Pacific Heights and the
Presidio. The sounds you
hear are more like gurgling
plumbing than organ music.
commercial strip stretches
just a few blocks from Fillmore
Street west to Divisadero Street,
after which the neighborhood
becomes predominantly
residential in character.
e
Marina Green
Map
4 D1.
@
22, 28, 30.
A long thin strip of lawn
running the length of the
Marina District, Marina Green is
popular with kite-flyers and for
picnics, especially on July 4,
when the city's largest firework
show can be seen from here
(see p51)
. Paths along the
waterfront are the
city's prime spots
for bicyclists,
joggers, and roller
skaters. Golden
Gate Promenade
leads from the west
end of the green to
Fort Point, or you
can turn east to the
Wave Organ at the
harbor jetty.
Built in 1861, the Octagon
House is named for its eight-
sided cupola. It houses a small,
but engaging, collection of
decorative arts and historic
documents of the Colonial
and Federal periods. Included
are furniture, paintings,
Revolutionary playing cards
and signatures of 54 of the
56 signers of the Declaration
of Independence.
w
Chestnut Street
Map
3 C2.
@
22, 28, 30, 43.
The main shopping and night-
life center of the Marina District,
Chestnut Street has a varied mix
of movie theaters, markets,
cafés, and restaurants. The
Wave Organ at the end of the West Harbor jetty
Gate National Recreation
Area (GGNRA) are both open to
the public.
Fort Mason has some of the
city's finest views, looking
across the bay toward Golden
Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.
collection of over 12,000 objects
representing thousands of
years of Mexican history.
The Maritime Library has a
wonderful mix of history
books, oral histories, and ships'
plans but its opening hours are
limited. The Maritime Museum
itself
(see p83)
is located near
Fisherman's Wharf. Among the
places to eat at Fort Mason
Center is Greens
(see p226)
, one
of the city's best vegetarian
restaurants. The Conference
Center produces a monthly
calendar of events.
International
Youth Hostel
Fort Mason
General's Residence
Fort Mason Center
Part of the Fort is now occupied
by one of San Francisco's prime
art complexes. Fort Mason
Center is home to over
25 cultural organizations,
art galleries, museums,
and theaters, including
the Cowell Theater, BATS
Improv at the Bayfront
Theater, the Magic Theatre,
and the Young Performers
Theatre. The SFMOMA
Artists Gallery offers
artworks from Northern
Californian artists for sale
or rent, while Italian and
Italian-American artists
display their works at
the Museo Italo
Americano. The
Mexican Museum
has a unique
Chapel
Golden Gate
National Recreation
Area headquarters
Meta III
(1985) by Italo
Scanga at the Museo
Italo Americano
The SS
Balclutha
, at Hyde Street Pier, part
of the Maritime Museum
