Coit Tower

Coit Tower was built in 1933 and is a notable landmark on top of Telegraph Hill dedicated to San Francisco’s firefighters by Lillie Hitchcock Coit.

It is said that Lillie Hitchcock Coit was rescued from a fire as a child and she was fascinated by firemen ever since. She became the informal mascot of the newly established San Francisco Fire Department when she pitched in to help a short handed fire crew to put out a fire on Telegraph Hill.

Upon her death, wealthy Lillie Hitchcock Coit donated money and requested a monument to be built for the firefighters. Because of Coit’s affinity with the San Francisco firefighters, some assume the shape of the tower resembles the nozzle of a fire hose, but it is not confirmed if this was intentional.

Coit Tower is a 210 ft (64 m) tall art deco tower, made of unpainted, reinforced concrete. The inside of the tower features mural art from 26 different artists. Many of the murals depict the struggles of working class Americans during the Great Depression and are now protected as a historical treasure. The murals can be seen on the ground floor of the tower, an elevator takes tourists up to the top of the tower, where they can enjoy a great 360 degree view of the bay and the city.