Coit Tower sits atop Telegraph Hill in San Francisco and can be seen from vantage points all over the city. It’s named for patron Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who left funds when she died in 1929 “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.” The slender tower resulted, and it still stands, rising more than 200 feet from its base. 
The View from the Top of Coit Tower
An elevator whisks visitors to the top of the tower to enjoy the 360-degree observation deck. From here you can see the densely built neighborhoods of San Francisco, the very crooked Lombard Street, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the former prison island of Alcatraz. 
On our visit here a couple of years ago, Coit Tower was closed for refurbishment. Newly spiffed up now, it’s open and welcomes visitors every day. We climbed some 400 steps (the Filbert Steps) from the wharf area up the hill to reach the tower. This is a fun route through the backyards of those lucky enough to live here.
We arrived exactly in time to join a free tour of the art that adorns the rotunda at the bottom of the tower. 
The Colorful Murals
The murals on the walls have a fascinating history. A year after Coit Tower was completed, in 1934, a group of artists was funded by the Public Works of Art Project, a forerunner of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Each of the scenes depicts life in California during the Depression. The artists painted an assigned subject in an assigned area. Scenes show different aspects of industry and commerce. The artists worked at the same time, side by side, day after day, until the murals were finished a few months later. 
The lively colors of these fresco paintings are vibrant after their recent restoration. The fog of San Francisco takes a toll, but plans are now to care for this art more frequently to prevent disrepair. You’ll notice a lot of detail in the paintings, such as this little dog.
Artists also worked to fit in the windows in their assigned canvases. I especially appreciated this library scene.
The second floor contains a few additional murals that show non-industrial life, such as this one of a card game. This area is closed to the public, but it’s included as part of the tour. 
Coit Tower, with its art inside and views of San Francisco from the top, is worth adding to your itinerary. After an enjoyable morning here, we walked through the adjacent neighborhood of North Beach and stopped for yummy Italian food for lunch. After climbing those stairs, we were certainly hungry!
If You Go
Note: Check the website for information on whether Coit Tower is currently open.
Open 10 to 5 every day
Cost: $7 for a ticket to the top of the tower; art tour is included
For more information, click here.
Read More About San Francisco
San Francisco Hidden Gems to Explore
Iconic Hotels of San Francisco
Visiting Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
Exploring San Francisco with Kids
Walking the Golden Gate Bridge
Touring Alcatraz
Riding San Francisco’s Cable Cars
San Francisco at Christmastime
Finding the Filbert Stairs
PIN IT FOR LATER!!! 
29 Comments
What an interesting post, I love hearing the history behind a monument.
Amalia
xo
Use to go to San Francisco all the time, but never been to Coit Tower. Thank you for the photos. I especially enjoyed seeing the WPA murals. You might think of posting a link to this post on Oakland Daily Photo that links to murals on Mondays.
So great! I so want to get to San Fran! I’m envious of all your travels!!
I have been to Coit Tower but never inside. Now I see what I missed. All the reason to go back. beautiful post!
I went to Coit Tower years ago when I visited San Francisco. Love the paintings. San Francisco has so many wonderful places to visit – wish I could go back.
…the murals have a depression public works feel to them.
Artwork …of course I’m thrilled:):) Yes, all those foggy days are not good for painting works! Even though LA is hilly, but it’s not geared toward tourism. The beach cities is where everyone goes there to have some enjoyment. Thank you Sharon for featuring the Coit tower and all these hilly views for ALL SEASONS:): Have a week with chocolates (if you celebrate Valentines Day) or other enjoyment:)
Oh wow! so much to see!
I remember reading about the restoration work being done there. That was when I knew there were murals in there and that we could actually go into the tower. Ever since I’ve wanted to go and see those murals. The week before last we planned a trip to the tower and my little one wasn’t feeling well so we had to cancel the trip to The City.
And I didn’t know you could go all the way to the top. Thank you, Sharon. All the more reasons to go see Coit Tower.
Thank you so much for showing us those murals. It must have been something to walk through all of that art.
Thanks again, Sharon. 🙂
What a wonderful post and excellent photos ~ Love San Francisco ~ thanks for the tours and reminding me of fond memories ~
Wishing you a Happy Week ~ ^_^
Thank you so much for the information. I am visiting San Francisco for the first time in three weeks. Can’t wait.
Thanks for the tour. I was there in 1993 but we didn’t get to go up the tower.
Great shots. Terrific art.
Sydney – City and Suburbs
Very nice photos of a landmark in my city. Great photos. I love the walk up there.
Thanks for sharing.
Beautiful murals! Thanks for the tour.
I have driven to Coit tower many times and have seen it from a distance but I have never actually been inside it or to the top.
Coit tower – the views and the art inside are pretty amazing. I visited once about 10 years ago and will never forget. The fact that it was the first time that I was confronted with a tripod being a security issue and not allowed on top… 🙂
I fall in love with San Francisco every time I see a photo of her online.
Welcome to Monday Mural. You did a great job of capturing the Coit Tower murals, which are a San Francisco treasure. Truly a time in a bottle. Thanks for contributing to this week’s Monday Mural.
Sharon, I really liked how you captured San Francisco in your photos (Lombard Street looks so cool). I did not have the time to stop by the Coit Tower when I visited the city. However, I would like to go back and see the views from the top and the murals (love those murals). #OurWorldTuesday
Man we didn’t get to go up because it was closed when we got there. now I want to go back!
Did you walk up there? It’s quite an incline, but it’s worth it for the views!
Fantastic tour & photos especially of the art work
That would be a fun climb up but tiring too!
We didn’t make it to Coit Tower when we were in SF last summer. We had my MIL with us and she was quite tuckered out from all the climbing…
Hi Sharon. I’ve been to San Francisco four times but never visited the Coit tower. I must say the views (esp of Lombard street) are super. Beautiful art work too. Will surely visit the next time I’m there. Thank you for this post.
Coit Tower is always the first thing I recommend to people visiting SF. I recommend going up the Greenwich steps and down the Filbert steps. The Greenwich steps lead through a small residential neighborhood with small wooden houses and narrow alleys for streets. Just lovely!
I was here about 15 years ago and even though we enjoyed the beautiful view I mainly went to see the murals. Aren’t they awesome? I’ll have to go back again now that it’s been spiffed up!
What a neat landmark! I haven’t heard of this before. I love the murals and the view – plus not having to climb up stairs to get to the top.
What great murals and beautiful city.
What luck that it was such so clear and beautiful the day you visited! The art tour sounds very interesting, too. We’ve visited all the sites you can see from the Tower but never the tower itself; I didn’t realize you could. Thanks for setting me straight!