Landmark #91 | San Francisco County | Visited: February 23, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
What is it? | Telegraph Hill, home of the Coit Tower! |
What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: A signal station was erected on Telegraph Hill in 1849 from which to observe the incoming vessels, a tall pole with movable arms was used to signal to the people in the town below whether sailing vessels or the sidewheel vessels of the Pacific mail were passing through the Golden Gate. In September 1853, the first telegraph in California, which extended eight miles to Point Lobos, was stationed here, giving the hill its name.
OTHER TIDBITS: Today, this hill is home to the famous Coit Tower, named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit, patroness of San Francisco firemen. At the age of 15, she had helped pull a fire engine up this hill, and she was a regular volunteer at fire fights around a city known for its disastrous fires! Over a third of her fortune went to the city of San Francisco for self beautification, resulting in this magnificent tower atop Telegraph Hill! This landmark is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places! |
How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Lobby of Coit Tower Telegraph Hill San Francisco, CA 94133 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~381mi (614km) — 6.4hrs |
When should I go? | Coit Tower is open for tours from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, May through October, and until 5:00 PM, November through April! |