Visitors guide to Coit Tower

An emblem of the San Francisco skyline and one of the city’s most distinctive creations, the “fire hose nozzle” dates from 1933. Your feet might be on fire by the time you hike to the top of Telegraph Hill and then to the top of the 210-foot slab of concrete. The 360-degree views of the city and bay make the hike worth the effort. If you're not into sore feet, don't worry, the views are almost as good from the parking lot. 

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The fresco murals inside the tower’s lobby are done in Diego Rivera’s social realism style. Don't miss them. They continue beyond what meets the eye; check out what’s behind the door next to the gift shop, up the stairs and around the second floor. There are 25 impressive Coit Tower murals, a city public works project dating to 1934 that shows scenes of working-class people during the Great Depression.

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When the paintings were unveiled, some folks deemed them subversive and communist. Protests delayed the opening for months and some paintings were painted over. The murals were a government spending project, part of a large plan to employ people during the Great Depression. It added 25 painters and their 19 assistants. 

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The city owns the place, and they will let you enter for free. You can climb the stairs to the top, or pay $8 (adult price) for the elevator ride. Tickets are sold in the gift shop inside. Save money, and your feet, by skipping the tower; jump up on the concrete risers around the lot instead to get the best views, and snap shots at a nearly 360-degree view from all over the park, Pioneer Park. 

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The tower is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May through October; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through April. It's essentially three blocks from Fisherman's Wharf, three blocks from North Beach and the same distance from the Embarcadero. But no matter which way you go, it's a steep hike up Telegraph Hill.

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The hill is one of the city's "original  seven" and maybe its most beloved. They've named 50 city hills now. Name them all. Go!

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Getting there: Walk to the tower by climbing Telegraph Hill along Filbert Street from where it intersects with Grant Avenue in North Beach. You can drive up to the tower by following the signs leading up to Telegraph Hill on Stockton Street, but expect long lines of cars and parking is difficult, with much of the parking restricted to local residents on weekends. Muni bus 39 runs there from Washington Square Park and Pier 39.

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The best bet is to hike up Telegraph Hill’s eastern slope along the scenic Filbert Street stairs, passing through gorgeous Grace Marchant Garden, and/or the Greenwich Street stairs. Or  take that way down the hill to the waterfront. It cuts through a cute neighborhood where stairways serve as roads. 

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If you're walking, don't go down Telegraph Hill the same way you came. Take the Filbert steps one way or the other, and don't miss Napier Lane for its quiet beauty in the chaotic city.

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Hot tip: There's a public bathroom stall on the sidewalk for those who make the uphill trek to Pioneer Park. 

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Hotter tip: Some murals can only be seen as part of tours. Ask at the ticket window.

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Oddly: If you wander the trails down the eastern side of Telegraph Hill toward the bay, you might hear some of the famous flock of wild parrots that live there and were featured in the 2005 film “Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.” They are considered residents, but they move around a lot. Filbert Street steps and Greenwich Street steps are most likely where you'll find them but you can spot them in the nearby Presidio too. Apparently they sometimes party in the Mission; like everyone else.
 

History: The tower was built with funds donated by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an eccentric supporter of firefighters who left one-third of her fortune to the city to “beautify” it — without saying how. "Eccentric," in history writing, usually means really really cool. With cool Mrs. Coit's help, the city leaders settled on a firefighter monument in Washington Square, and also this concrete tower between Fisherman’s Wharf and the Financial District. Its hilltop perch was once a telegraph station that alerted residents to incoming ships.

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Nearby: Stop off for a bite in North Beach, perhaps a to-go order to be eaten in Washington Square Park in front of the beautiful cathedral. 

 

Photo ops: Golden Gate views at sunset are winners. Or any view at any time of day, basically. There isn't a bad angle anywhere atop Telegraph Hill. Just pick an angle of the tower, pick your favorite mural and get to North Beach for lunch.
 

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