Built in 1933 with funds bequeathed by Lillian Hitchcock Coit, the 210-foot tall Coit Tower stands proudly atop Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. This architectural gem, resembling an enormous Roman column, holds a rich history and a unique connection to the city’s volunteer firefighters.

Coit Tower: The Iconic San Franciscan Landmark

Ready to learn more about Coit Tower?

• Design and Architecture
• Fresco Murals
• Telegraph Hill & Coit Tower
• Pioneer Park
• Lillian Hitchcock Coit

Design and Architecture:

The art deco tower, crafted from unpainted reinforced concrete, was designed by renowned architects Arthur Brown Jr. (also responsible for San Francisco’s City Hall and War Memorial Opera House) and Henry Howard. A fascinating tale, although apocryphal, suggests that the tower’s design mirrors a fire hose nozzle, paying homage to Lillian Hitchcock Coit’s affinity with the volunteer firefighter community.

Fresco Murals:

Step into the lobby of Coit Tower to witness fresco murals painted in 1934, depicting the discontent and hope felt during the Great Depression. Today, these vividly colored murals stand as California’s finest examples of Depression-era public art. While entry to the tower is free, a fee is charged for those eager to take the elevator to the top.

Telegraph Hill & Coit Tower

Coit Tower’s lofty perch atop Telegraph Hill, a distinctive 295-foot elevation, provides a breathtaking view of San Francisco. Telegraph Hill, historically significant for signaling ship arrivals, played a crucial role before the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. Before the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, ships carrying mail, cargo, and loved ones were San Francisco’s primary link to the rest of the U.S.

In 1846 a signal pole was placed atop Telegraph Hill to alert the town when ships approached. Telegraph Hill received its name in 1850 when a semaphore, also called a marine telegraph, was erected to replace the signal pole. The semaphore consisted of a tall mast with movable arms that were positioned in various configurations depending on the type of ship. During the Gold Rush eager residents, alerted by the semaphore, scrambled up the hill to watch paddle-wheeled steamers and clipper ships sail into the bay.

Pioneer Park

Crowning Telegraph Hill is Pioneer Park, established in 1876 to celebrate the United States Centennial. The park’s centerpiece is, of course, Coit Tower. Pioneer Park offers a panoramic aerial view and features an anachronistic bronze statue of Christopher Columbus, a gift from San Francisco’s Italian-American community in 1957.

Lillian Hitchcock Coit

The tower’s namesake, Lillian Hitchcock Coit, was a remarkable and well-known patroness of San Francisco’s volunteer firefighters. Known for her eccentricities, such as dressing in male drag to infiltrate male-only establishments, Lillian Hitchcock Coit was an avid gambler and cigar smoker.

Before 1866, there was no city fire department, and the fires in the city that broke out were extinguished by several volunteer fire companies. At the age of fifteen, she witnessed the Knickerbocker Engine Company Number Five responding to a fire atop Telegraph Hill. Seeing that the Knickerbocker Company was shorthanded, she through her schoolbooks to the ground and helped, calling out to bystanders to help get the engine up the hill. After that, Lillian became the Knickerbocker Engine Companies mascot.

http://www.protectcoittower.org/about_lillie_hitchcock_coit

When the Knickerbocker Engine Company Number Five made Lillian an honorary member, she took to signing her name Lillie Hitchcock Coit Knickerbocker. She died in 1929, at the age of eighty-six, leaving a $118,000 bequest to build a tower in honor of her firefighting friends.

Discover the captivating Coit Tower history in San Francisco, where architectural brilliance, Depression-era art, and the spirit of volunteer firefighters converge. Plan your visit to this iconic landmark and delve into the stories that have shaped its legacy.

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