Coit Tower Observatory

 

10

43

Adam J.

San Francisco, CA

A fantastic view of the bay and financial district!

Go on a day that there's not too much fog and you'll get some great pictures. The observatory should be more open in my opinion but I guess its a safety thing. Some people throw pennies over the edge maybe for good luck.

It's a nice view. Sunset is the best time for photos as long as there's no fog in the air. Spend about half an hour up here and take in all of the gorgeous rooftop views of San Francisco.

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7

51

Liz L.

San Francisco, CA

If you enjoy nostalgic old buildings, if you can appreciate vintage details like the elevator floor location information dial slowly but steadily making its way back to floor one, and if you enjoy San Francisco history, I definitely recommend visiting the observatory. If you don't enjoy any of these things, at least go once to say you've been to the top. Then head back down and partake in some wild-parrot-watching.

I think the whole point of keeping most of the original decor (such as the elevators and the murals) is so that you can get a feel for the character of a historic building like Coit Tower. The ominously old (but still functional) dial contributes a lot to the experience.

Sure, it doesn't have a continuous pane of glass that provides a sweeping panoramic view, but what would you expect an observatory built in the 1930's to look like? The tower of the De Young Museum? Gosh, I hope not. The triplet windows nicely frame each neighborhood surrounding Telegraph Hill, and they're actually not that tiny. I visited the top level in 2003, so I honestly don't know if they've added cast iron grills to the triplet windows, I suppose you'd have to go yourself and see.

My Advice:  Don't go to the top expecting a glass-encased observatory, but instead, go without expectations and just experience it in all its San Francisco glory.

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Elite '08

45

97

Carla P.

San Francisco, CA

You can't take the stairs. I don't even know if there are any stairs. You have to pay a very small fee to be taken up on a very old elevator. The elevator itself being so old and cool it's worth the money alone. Once you get to the top, it is true that the windows are very thick and small and separated by large spaces of concrete. But there still something very San Franciscan about being on top of Coit tower. It made me feel like I'd been transported to the 1940's or the 1950's. The beautiful fog, the chill in the wind. The slight feeling that the tower is swaying.

Through one window you can look out over Russian Hill, past the Marina and into the Presidio. You may have to move over to the next window to be able to catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate and the ocean behind it, that is, if the fog lets you.

For me, the change in view from window to window and the from day to day, really captures the beauty of this city. If you cross over to a different window it's a different view. Just like if you cross the street you may suddenly find yourself in a completely different neighborhood. Or like when you wake up on a warm sunny morning and you can almost hear Janis singing, later that night the fog rolls in and suddenly you're surrounded by the sounds of fog horns and the calling of the sea lions.

Coit Tower is old, and it's a beautiful piece of San Francisco. If you've never been, don't spend your money on candy. Go check it out. Even if you are afraid of heights like I am. If people stopped going, then there wouldn't be much sense in keeping it. It was completed in 1933. Just imagine all the people that have gone up there just to look out it's little windows.

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30

141

Kartik G.

San Francisco, CA

I love Coit tower but their observatory... SUCKS! First off, the elevators are seriously from the late 1800's with elevator floor location information displayed by a dial. That should have been a sign ominous enough for me to skip the fee and the huge disappointment that came with it.

But I proceeded to pay the fee as my two friends and I headed to their observatory. While I was expecting bay windows with a sweeping panoramic view, I was met with tiny windows that had cast iron grills in front obstructing most of the city view. Moreover, the triplet of these tiny windows were separated by huge gaps of concrete in between leaving   my hopes of gushing bay views occluded by the ugly walls and the unholy SF fog...

My Advice: Save your money and buy some candy if you must instead

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31

67

Labonee M.

San Francisco, CA

The COIT tower was named after Lillie Hitchcock Coit who donated, I believe, her chunk of land to the city after she passed on.  It's really beautiful up there...  COIT tower is within Pioneer park.  I walked up Telegraph Hill to it with 3 other coworkers.  It was such a nice day that we could see everything so clearly!  The Golden Gate Bridge was as red as ever.  Treasure Island was intact, and Alcatraz looked a lot smaller in front of the huge Angel Island behind it.  The water was bright blue, and the ferry boats looked really white and pretty on it.  We even got to see lots of parrots that this area got popular for a year ago because of a documentary that came out on it.  The parrots were laughing the whole time!  They had bright red heads and bright green bodies.  

The actual tower is cool-looking of course, but not like WOW.  There's not much inside, just a gift shop and some art on the walls from the Great Depression time or something.  That was kindof interesting.

But mainly, the walk up the hill was fun cuz there's a bunch of steps and trails and stuff.  I was hoping that all the stairs tightened my buttocks a bit.  I think you should all go on a nice day and check out the kickass views of the city from here :).

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