Visiting Coit Tower
A gift to the city, by bequest of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, Coit Tower is an icon of the San Francisco skyline. Built in 1933 in the Art Deco style, Coit Tower stands 210 feet above the hilltop peak of Telegraph Hill in Pioneer Park. Affording tremendous views of San Francisco, the bay and Alcaltraz, it is a popular attraction and great place to take photographs.
You can walk the grounds and enter the tower free of charge. Inside the tower itself, frescoes painted by local artists, depict laborers performing work common to California's heritage. An elevator carries small groups to the top of the tower for even better views. Elevator ticket prices are $4.50 for adults and $2.00 for children under 12.
You can drive to Coit Tower by following the signs near Stockton and Lombard streets in North Beach uphill to Telegraph Hill. There is very limited parking near the tower. A flashing yellow light along the approach road warns you when the lot is full. Weekends and evenings are popular times to visit and you should expect long waits to drive up the hill. Once you turn right onto the narrow winding road to the top, you are commited, there is little space to turn around and doing so is dangerous. During busy times, park on Lombard Street or one of the nearby cross streets and walk up one of the stair cases through the gardens. Alternatively, you can take the #39 MUNI bus from Washington Square and be dropped off right in front of the tower.
The grounds are accessible 24 hours a day, the tower is open 10 to 5, daily. Accessible Restrooms are available. The tower is not wheelchair accessible, althought the grounds are.
Allow 30 to 60 minutes, plus wait time for parking. |
