Coit Tower was finished in 1933, paid for by a bequest from Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who left part of her fortune to beautify the city she loved. It stands on top of Telegraph Hill and is visible from much of the waterfront.
The murals
The ground-floor walls are covered in murals painted in 1934 under a federal art program, by a group of local artists. They show California life during the Depression: farm workers, dock workers, a library, a busy city street, and plenty of quiet political comment. Viewing the main ground-floor murals is free. Some smaller rooms open only on guided tours.
The view from the top
An elevator, with a small charge, takes you to an open observation deck. From it you see the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and the hills of the city all around. On a clear day it is one of the best panoramas in San Francisco.
Walking up
Skip the bus and climb. From the Embarcadero, the Filbert Steps and the Greenwich Steps run up the steep east face of the hill through gardens planted by neighbors, past wooden cottages you can only reach on foot. It is steep but short. Listen for the wild parrots, a flock of cherry-headed conures that has lived on the hill for decades.
From the west side, a gentler walk climbs from Washington Square in North Beach. Going up from the bay and down into North Beach for coffee is the best way to combine the two.
Practical notes
Parking at the top is very limited and the lot often has a queue. Walk or take the bus. For more high points around the city, see the best views in San Francisco.
About the murals
In 1934 the federal Public Works of Art Project, a forerunner of the better-known New Deal art programs, hired more than two dozen artists to paint the tower's interior. Many had studied with or been inspired by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, who had worked in San Francisco a few years earlier, and the style shows: bold figures, working people, crowded scenes of industry and agriculture.
The murals caused a stir before they were even opened. Some included political symbols and slogans, painted during a bitter waterfront strike, and the tower's opening was delayed while officials argued about them. Most survived. Restored in recent decades, they are now considered one of the finest groups of Depression-era public art in the country.
Who was Lillie Coit?
Lillie Hitchcock Coit was a wealthy, unconventional San Franciscan who as a girl adopted the city's volunteer firefighters, especially Knickerbocker Engine Company No. 5, and rode with them to fires. She left a third of her fortune "to be expended in an appropriate manner for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city which I have always loved." The tower is often said to look like a fire hose nozzle; its architects always denied the connection.
Making a morning of it
Start at the bottom of the Filbert Steps on Sansome Street, climb through the gardens to the tower, see the murals and the view, then walk down the other side to Washington Square in North Beach for coffee and focaccia. Allow two hours, more with breakfast.
Frequently asked questions
Are the stairs difficult?
They are steep and there are a few hundred steps, but there are landings and benches. Take it slowly. Coming down is easier on the lungs and harder on the knees.
Can I see all the murals?
The ground-floor murals are on view during opening hours. Some areas, including the stairwell murals, are shown on guided tours only.
Is the view from the top worth the elevator fee?
On a clear day, yes: it is one of the best 360-degree views of the bay.