Top 10 Most Visited Monuments in San Francisco | Famous Monuments in San Francisco

A tour of the monuments in San Francisco is just for you if you’re often intrigued by the history of a destination. You must be aware that San Francisco has several unique monuments and also there are many different historical monuments and the forts on the island are worth visiting. The historical monuments of this city are worth visiting. There is no shortage of museums, theatres, and parks to visit to get in touch with culture, but how about visiting some of the historic points of interest that have significance to the country. Don’t miss some of the popular monuments in San Francisco to visit right here. Read on to discover some of the most iconic historical monuments in San Francisco:

Monuments to See in San Francisco

1. Golden Gate Bridge

One of the most iconic landmarks in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the ‘seven wonders of the modern world’. The bridge, which was opened in 1937, was chosen by the American Civil Society of Engineers as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, because of the fact that it was an incredible engineering feat. The suspension bridge is held by a cable, stretching across two towers providing the structural support. It’s unique orange colour makes it pleasing to the eye and the towers can sometimes be seen rising through the clouds on foggy mornings. It is an absolute must for any visitor to walk or pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge. The walkways on either side of the road are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists. As you go along, you’ll be able to absorb some fantastic views of the bay, with the wind blowing through your hair. It is widely believed to be San Francisco’s most photogenic spot, so get your cameras out and get clicking!

Address: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA, United States.

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2. Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is an extremely busy tourist destination with several attractions and is a famous neighbourhood in San Francisco. San Francisco’s Fisherman Wharf is actually one of the most well-known areas in the Western US. This famous monument in San Francisco is a vibrant neighbourhood with tons of famous places with many well-known activities. A couple of museums and souvenir shops, a plethora of seafood restaurants dotted in the entire neighbourhood, and a colony of sea lions resting nearby make the place a tourist hotspot. Sightseeing boats into the San Francisco Bay and also ferries to Alcatraz take off from here. This amazing and lively neighbourhood of the city is one of the several must-visit places.

Address: Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco, CA, USA.

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3. The Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor is a replica of the stunning French Pavilion from the 1915 Panama – Pacific exposition. It is a part of the Fine Arts of the Museum of San Francisco. This best monument in San Francisco located in Lincoln Park is perhaps the most beautiful museum of San Francisco. It’s built on elevated land, holding some of the most beautiful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco city. The architecture is wonderfully European, with numerous columns along with the courtyard gallery and a fountain in the front.  The museum itself houses an impressive collection of European art, most of which is French, spanning over 4,000 years. It includes many notable works of art including Rodin’s The Kiss, and Thinker, The Grand Canal by Claude Monet and St. John the Baptist by El Grecko among several others. The majestic symphonic organ of the museum can also be found above the main galleries.

Address: 100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121, United States.

4. Chinatown

Located on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street, this Chinatown is actually the oldest and the largest Chinatown outside Asia that’s why it is considered one of the most popular monuments in San Francisco. Chinatowns are always a fun place to visit. There are several attractions, and of course, you get to witness the authentic Chinese culture outside of China. You can shop here for Chinese souvenirs and handicrafts and try mouth-watering Chinese dishes. The restaurants of San Francisco’s Chinatown are actually incredibly famous, having been featured in various national TV and culinary shows over the years. It is also known for being the first Chinatown to introduce westernised Chinese cuisine to the world such as the Chopsuey while bringing the dim sum to the west as well.  You’ll find many shops and stores as you walk along the streets and alleyways of Chinatown and also some interesting buildings such as the Bank of Canton and the Sing Chong Building. The annual celebrations of the Chinese New Year and the Autumn Moon Festival are times when the Chinatown’s atmosphere becomes absolutely electric!

Address: Chinatown, San Francisco, CA, USA.

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5. San Francisco City Hall

Located in the heart of the city in the Civic Center neighborhood, City Hall is the place of local government for San Francisco county and city. Originally built in 1899 after 27 years of planning, the original city hall was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The present building was reconstructed in a similar Beaux-Art or Neoclassical architectural style as the original building. Films that feature San Francisco City Hall include Raiders of the Lost Ark and Milk. This iconic monument in San Francisco is open 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday and offers tours to the public.

Address: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 701 2311

6. The Lombard Street

Lombard Street is an intriguing street beginning at Presidio Boulevard. It is known for its section on Russian Hill, with 8 sharp hair pin turns. This beautiful monument in San Francisco is part of many a city tour because of its section with interesting and fascinating turns on the Russian Hill. It was built with 8 sharp one-way hairpin turns because a straight road down the slope would have been way too steep, for cars and for pedestrians. The curvy road itself is an incredibly scenic spot and tourists across the globe come here to explore. Since all the turns are in a very short space, from the bottom of the road you can see the winding road coming down. The road has lovely Victorian mansions on either side and gardens with many colorful flowers. It is the ‘crookedest road’ in San Francisco!

Address: Lombard St, San Francisco, CA, USA.

7. Cable Car Museum

On the historic cable car system of San Francisco, the museum is an interesting display. The San Francisco Cable Car System is one of the oldest popular such systems in the world, and the museum traces its heritage and development from its inception in 1873.  This heritage landmark in San Francisco houses collections of the various devices that have been used in cable cars over the years, including tracks, cables, etc and also photographs of historic importance. The museum also houses three antique cable cars from the very first lines back in 1870, Clay Street Company’s grip car 8  and the Sutter Street Railway’s grip car 46 and trailer 54, the only remaining car from the first cable car company. Not only a museum, the museum actually houses the cable car line’s powerhouse and a viewing deck overlooking the barn. Entry into the museum is free.

Address: 1201 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States.

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8. Palace of Fine Arts

The Palace of Fine Arts is a historic building which was constructed during the 1915 Panama-Pacific exhibition of various arts and is one of the few buildings from the exhibition that survive today. After the exhibition, most of the buildings of the exposition were demolished. However, it was decided against demolishing the palace. It continued to hold art exhibitions in the years to come. However, this cultural monument in San Francisco wasn’t contracted to stand for too long and it was demolished in 1964 due to poor structural integrity.  The palace and the lagoon were restored in 2010 and today has once again become a favourite place among locals. The colonnaded structure has been rebuilt to its former glory and so has the serene lagoon. It is adorned with several trees around it and swans and ducks swimming around in its waters. It now is a popular place for families and children for picnics and playing around and also for weddings and wedding photographs.

Address: 3601 Lyon St, San Francisco, CA 94123, United States.

9. Union Square

Union Square is home to several international brands and boutiques and many favourite restaurants, hotels and bars and a popular public square in San Francisco. This famous landmark in San Francisco is dotted with several international shopping brands and retailers. Like Gucci, Bulgari and Louis Vitton, some of the biggest brands occupy stores in the area. Buildings of stores like Victoria’s Secret, Nike and Apple are also around Union Square.  The area is the city’s top destination for high-end shopping. Not just the historic French Quarter, with a pleasantly authentic French feel with various cafes and restaurants and also the shopping, the theatre district is located right next to Union Square. The square is also close to many points of interest and also the ‘Hearts in San Francisco’ painted sculptures are placed at the four corners of the square and sold each year. San Francisco’s famous cable cars are a ride you shouldn’t miss, so make the most of your trip to Union Square.

Address: 333 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States.

10. Golden Gate Park

The Golden Gate Park is a mammoth urban park in the city, sprawling over an area of more than 1000 acres. It is a park of superb beauty and a plethora of tourist attractions. The park’s sheer size makes it unmissable when you’re in San Francisco. It was conceived after a need was felt to have a spacious public park like that in New York. The Golden Gate Park is actually larger than the Central Park in New York City. The old monument in San Francisco is one of the biggest attractions for locals and tourists alike, with more than 13 million visitors every year. It is adorned with several sites of interest, ranging from statues, windmills and museums to natural features like gardens, lakes and a waterfall. The Music Concourse area is frequently used for performances and shows, and around it are several interesting sites like the Japanese Tea Garden and the De Young Museum of Fine Arts.

The park also includes a splendid conservatory of flowers, with a huge array of different flowers on display. It’s adorned with many small and big lakes to add to the natural aura and even a botanical garden containing more than 7,500 species of plants. On top of that, there are several statues decorating the park and even an ornate carousel. The park is home to several sporting activities as well, such as a polo ground and archery range. It’s pavements are full of joggers in the morning and its gardens of picnicking families during the weekend. The park is an integral part of San Francisco’s urban area.

Address: 501 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117-1898.

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11. Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral in San Francisco’s very own Notre Dame. Located in the Nob Hill district of San Francisco like Notre Dame, the Grace Cathedral is French Gothic in style. It originally began 1849 Gold Rush San Francisco but was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake. This religious monument in San Francisco is quite famous in popular culture. Ansel Adams is known to have frequently photographed the beautiful church and the cathedral is featured in several movies such as Bicentennial Man and Hitchcock’s Family Plot. Grace Cathedral is a beautiful place to visit, both religiously and non religiously.

12. Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is another one of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks. The island served as a federal prison for the worst of criminals in the country around the 1930s to 1960s and today is a major tourist attraction. If you’re a Hollywood movie buff, there is a very good chance that you have heard of or know about Alcatraz. It has been featured in several films since it ceased to be a prison, the most popular of which are Sean Connery’s ‘The Rock’ and Clint Eastwood’s ‘Escape from Alcatraz’.  The natural monument in San Francisco was used as a military garrison and prison in the 19th century and its location as a secure military fortification was an influential reason in the establishment of a federal prison. Today, tours of the prison and the island are at the top of every San Francisco itinerary, educating you about the hundreds of terrifying criminals that have stayed inside the walls of, as it is often called, the Rock. As a contrast to this otherwise sobering aspect of the prison, the island is planted with several different species of colourful flowers like roses and geraniums, accompanied by many trees and little bushes of berries. It’s natural landscape also provides habitat to numerous animals and birds as well.

Address: San Francisco, CA 94133, United States.

So far we have discussed the best monuments in San Francisco, which contains the proper information regarding all the top monuments in San Francisco. I hope you might have loved reading this article and if you love to know more about San Francisco then kindly head to our other articles as well which will help you to get knowledge about San Francisco.

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