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Coit Tower is a notable landmark built atop Telegraph Hill at the bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit to beautify the City of San Francisco. In her words, Lillie Hitchcock Coit bequeathed one-third of her estate to the City and County of San Francisco "to be expended in an appropriate manner for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city which I have always loved." Contrary to popular belief, Coit Tower was never intended to resemble a fire hose nozzle nor meant to be dedicated to firefighters, although there is a Coit memorial statue wash park sanfran davidspalding.jpg located at nearby Washington Square.
Murals
This art deco 210-foot (64-meter) unpainted reinforced concrete tower was dedicated in 1933. It was built with funds bequeathed by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, widow of a wealthy financier, by Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Howard with murals by 26 different artists and numerous assistants. While most of the murals have been restored, a small segment (the spiral stairway exit to the observation platform) was not restored but durably painted over with epoxy surfacing. These murals in particular contained very "leftist" political and social themes related to the Great Depression and socialist political movements. Most of the murals are open for public viewing without charge during open hours, although there are ongoing negotiations by the Recreation and Parks Department of San Francisco to begin charging visitors a fee to enter the mural rotunda. The murals in the spiral stairway, normally closed to the public, is open for viewing on Saturday mornings at 11:00 am with a free City Guides tour. San Francisco City Guides provide free walking tours which give access to these murals on a regular basis. See the bottom of this article for a link.
The view
The tower, which stands atop Telegraph Hill in San Francisco's Pioneer Park, offers fantastic views of San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park ("Aquatic Park"), Alcatraz, Pier 39, Angel Island, Treasure Island, the Bay Bridge, Russian Hill, the Financial District, and Nob Hill. The elevator to the top of the tower costs $3.75 for adults 13-64, $2.50 for seniors 65+, and $1.50 for children 6-12, but the breathtaking view is well worth the price.
Telegraph Hill
Parking
Due to the extreme topography, the parking lot at the top of the hill is only accessible by one road, Telegraph Hill Boulevard. Because Coit Tower is such a popular tourist attraction, at peak times, the street can be backed up a third or more of the way down the hill, and the wait to get to the top can reach 40 minutes or more. This prompts many drivers to make illegal U-turns, blocks resident access, and delays the 39-Coit bus. For these reasons, as of 2005, the San Francisco Department of Parking and Traffic is considering eliminating public parking at the top of the hill and promoting public transportation alternatives from more accessible locations.
A system of wooden and concrete stairs and footpaths lead to the top of the hill from various directions, making a steep but direct climb possible.
Telegraph Hill Boulevard connects with Lombard Street, another popular tourist attraction.
Media
In the book triliogy Nine Lives Of Chloe King by Celia Thomson, the protagonist Chloe King falls from Coit Tower and dies only to return to life due to her nine lives of belonging to a race of humans who have the characteristics of cats, also known as Mai.
Photo gallery
Tower and related sites
The mural
Views from the Coit Tower
See also
External links
Art Deco | Landmarks in San Francisco | Towers in California
"Coit Tower"