Coit Tower

The Coit Tower was built in 1933 with funds from Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She was an eccentric personality who was best known for her support of the local firemen. After she died, she left one third of her fortune for the beautification of the city. The result was the Coit Tower, which is both a memorial for Lillie Hitchcock Coit and for the San Francisco firemen. The concrete tower was constructed by Arthur Brown Jr., best known for his magnificent City Hall.

The interior of the 63m/210 ft tall cylindrical tower is decorated with a large number of murals, most of them depicting life in California during the Great Depression. In total 25 painters worked on the project, which includes - among many other scenes - a bank robbery, a scene from the harbor and a look into a department store. The murals are protected as a historical treasure.
At the top of the Coit tower is an observation platform with spectacular 360° views over San Francisco.

The Coit Tower is built on top of the 87m/285ft high Telegraph Hill, which is situated between Fisherman's Wharf and the Financial District. In 1850, a pole with movable arms on top of the hill was used as a signaling station. The wooden arms were adjusted to signal the incoming of ships. In 1853 it was replaced by an electric telegraph station, hence the hill's name.

Surrounding the tower is the Pioneer Park. It was bought in 1876 by some businessmen to protect the hill from development. They donated it to the city on the premise that the area would become a park.

The Coit tower can be reached by walking up the Greenwich steps or via the scenic Filbert Steps at Montgomery Street.