Fascinating San Francisco eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 40 pages of information about Fascinating San Francisco.

Fascinating San Francisco eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 40 pages of information about Fascinating San Francisco.

Portsmouth Square:  Originally called the Plaza, this place figured largely in the early history of San Francisco.  Commodore John Montgomery, after whom Montgomery street is named, raised the flag here to herald American possession of California.  The Vigilance Committee used the Plaza for public gatherings in their struggle against lawlessness.  The Robert Louis Stevenson monument is here, with his oft-quoted message carved on its face, beginning “To be honest, to be kind, to earn a little, to spend a little less.”  Stevenson loved this square greatly and loitered here much. [Easy walk from any place downtown, or by Kearny street car, tax, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Mission Dolores:  This Mission was founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, and its adobe walls remain in a remarkable state of preservation.  A new church of Spanish architecture is beside it.  Adjoining the old building is a burial ground, the inscriptions on whose stones add to the interest of the paintings, carvings and other relics in the Mission. ["J,” “K” and No. 8 cars on Market street, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Telegraph Hill:  From the top of this height flags and semaphores signaled the approach of ships with the Argonauts in the early days.  The Park Commissioners are making it a recreation center.  One of the best views of the city, its skyscrapers and the Bay is obtained from the hill. [By cars on Stockton and Kearny street, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Russian Hill:  Many of the writers and painters of San Francisco have their homes here.  There are also fine apartments, terraced gardens and compensating walks, unfolding views of the Bay and distant hills. [By cars on Stockton and Union streets, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Fishermen’s Wharf:  Harbor of the Italian fishing fleet, this has the aspect of a transplanted bit of the Neapolitan coast even though it has been modernized with the employment of gasoline motor boats. [Kearny and Beach car to end of line and walk along the waterfront, or by taxi or auto.]

California Palace of Legion of Honor:  A memorial to the soldiers of the world war, this replica of the Palace of the Legion of Honor of Paris was built by Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Spreckels in Lincoln Park, overlooking the Golden Gate, to house art treasures and war relics. [By cars marked for Ocean Beach or Cliff House, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Golden Gate Park Memorial Museum:  One of the outstanding attractions of the recreation center described elsewhere in this booklet. [By marked Golden Gate Park cars on Market and Geary streets, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Palace of Fine Arts:  On the Marina, close to the Presidio, this handsomely proportioned building was preserved from the Panama-Pacific Exposition.  It houses an exhibition of painting, statuary and objects of arts from the Phoebe A. Hearst and other collections. [By “D” cars on Geary street and Union street car at Ferry depot, or by taxi, auto or sightseeing bus.]

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Fascinating San Francisco from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.