Top Historical Places in San Francisco

  1. Pioneer Monument

    View Point, Monument, Sculpture

    Find this controversial structure between the Asian Art Museum and the Main Library.Frank Happersberger sculpted the 820 tonne artwork, intending it to decorate the old City Hall, which burned down in the 1906 Earthquake. The sculptor has a number of figures: the crowing Roman goddess Minerva, goddesses of agriculture and commerce, a vaquero, a priest, prospectors, and what looks like a submiss...Read more
  2. San Francisco National Cemetery

    Memorial, Monument, Cemetery

    The first burial here happened in 1854. The cemetery at that time was only about 9 acres in size. The military guarded and improved it over the next few decades, until in 1932, it became about 28.34 acres. Since no more expansion is possible, the cemetery has stopped taking new internments unless land opens up, or if there’s already and existing and reserved graveside. It has some signifi...Read more
  3. Camera Obscura

    4.4 (65 Votes)
    Camera Obscura

    Historical Site, Architecture

    One look from the outside and you know this place does not take itself too seriously. It’s basically a giant camera obscura.  Built in 1946 it was registered as a national historic place in 2001.  Camera obscuras have a long history in San Francisco. The image this particular massive device produces is projected onto a large parabolic white table inside the building. Every six m...Read more
  4. Chinese Historical Society Of America Museum

    Museum, Historical Site

    It can be easy to overlook to the contribution of the Chinese population to San Francisco’s and America’s history. This museum is there to make sure that doesn’t happen. It is both an archive and a history center, founded in 1963, and is located in a historic building in Chinatown. Architect Julia Morgan built the beautiful building. The museum houses some beautiful artefacts ...Read more
  5. Neptune Society Columbarium

    Architecture , Heritage Building

    Columbarium: A room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored. Now that you have context, you learn that this is one of San Francisco’s most fringe attractions. The hauntingly beautiful neo-classical building has suffered a lot since it was built in 1897 – neglect, looting and vandalism. It’s only in the last three decades that it has been restored, by the singular...Read more
  6. The Flood Building Image
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    Heritage Building

    Built in 1904, this 12-story highrise in the downtown shopping district is one of San Francisco’s best known landmarks. Its fame isn’t derived from its moderately elegant looks; rather, the building known for having survived the 1906 Earthquake and subsequent fires largely unscathed, one of the very few large structures to do so. It’s a commercial building, and several importa...Read more
  7. Swedenborgian Church

    4.8 (10 Votes)
    Swedenborgian Church

    Church, Religious Site, Landmark, Historical Site

    Emanuel Swedenborg was an 18th century scientist and mystic. This church was founded on his ideologies, and the building was built in 1895. Now a national historic landmark, the building is famous for its unusual architecture, of a style known as Arts and Crafts. The Arts and Craft artistic movement lasted only briefly, between 1880 and 1910, and was focused on simplicity of materials and forms...Read more
  8. Six Sisters, Painted Ladies

    Landmark, Historical Site

    The Six Sisters or Painted Ladies in the historical Alamo Square Park are exquisitely painted and designed Victorian houses, setup along a stunning backdrop. Along the slight slope of the road, thousands of houses stand looking spectacular, swathed in loud, bright, and vibrant colours like red, yellow, blue, chocolate, green, and many more. Developed by Matthew Kavanaugh these houses attract on...Read more
  9. Pink Triangle Park & Memorial

    4.2 (8 Votes)
    Pink Triangle Park & Memorial

    Park, Memorial

    The homosexuals persecuted by Nazi Germany are roughly about 150,000 in number. At the time, gay men were forced to wear pink triangles on their clothes as a mark of their apparent shame. Today, this triangular motif has been shaped in defiance. 15 columns, one for each of the thousand of the LGBT population thought to have perished during the holocaust, surround the park. It is the It is the f...Read more
  10. Fort Funston

    4.8 (182 Votes)
    Fort Funston

    Outdoors, Trail, Park, View Point

    If you’re outdoorsy, Fort Funston is waiting for you. Once a harbour defence site on the high and windy headlands of steep sandstone cliffs, the Fort’s network of trails has made it popular among horse riders and dog walkers. Also, the high-cliffs attract hang-gliders and remote-controlled airplane enthusiasts like moths. It is an excellent place to picnic. The park is 35 acres of s...Read more
  11. Glide Memorial United Methodist Church

    4.3 (31 Votes)
    Glide Memorial United Methodist Church

    Church, Religious Site, Cathedral

    Unlike churches in Europe, churches in America don’t usually hold quite the same level of historical importance. This church is an exception to that rule. Founded in 1929, the church was quite conservative at first, but with the appointment to Reverend of Texan African-American minister Cecil Williams, the church transformed into one of the most progressive religious institutions in the c...Read more
  12. Notre Dame Des Victoires Church

    4.7 (61 Votes)
    Notre Dame Des Victoires Church

    Church, Religious Site, Landmark, Historical Site

    The church caters primarily to the city’s French Catholic population. It was founded in 1856 when French Catholic immigrants rushed into area in the time of the Gold Rush. It was made a historical landmark in 1984. It’s architecture is at once classic but unusual, styled after the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, France. Thus, the influence is Byzantine, Romanesqu...Read more
  13. SF Armory

    4.4 (102 Votes)
    SF Armory

    Heritage Building, Adults

    Its not often that you find a porn-production company has moved into a historical heritage building (this is probably the only place you’ll ever hear of it happening). Built for the United States National Guard in 1914 in Moorish Revival style, this castle-like armory was shut down in 1976. Over the next three decades, it fell into disrepair. Then, in 2006, the adult entertainment product...Read more
  14. San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art

    San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art

    Art And Culture, Art Museum, Art Gallery, Library

    The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is renowned as an up to date workmanship museum and art gallery, situated in San Francisco. Being a charitable association, the museum holds a universally distinguished collection of cutting edge and contemporary artistry and craft. Moreover, it was also the first museum situated upon the West Coast, which was dedicated exclusively to twentieth century art...Read more