Journal of Property Management

FAMOUS PROPERTIES
ART HISTORY Coit Tower paints a pretty picture of San
Francisco’s history

DIANA MIREL IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR JPM®. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ARTICLE OR YOU ARE AN IREM MEMBER INTERESTED IN WRITING FOR JPM®, PLEASE E-MAIL MARIANA TOSCAS NOWAK AT MNOWAK@ IREM.ORG.

A TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO IS NOT COM-
PLETE WITHOUT A STOP AT COIT TOWER
IN THE TELEGRAPH HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
Boasting 360-degree views of the entire city, the
San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and
the Bay Bridge, the tower has been a prominent
symbol of the city since it was built in 1933.
Developed as a monument to the city’s fire-
fighters, the fluted tower was built in honor of
San Francisco socialite Lillie Hitchcock Coit. In
her will, Coit bequeathed one-third of her estate
to the city to be used “for the purpose of adding
to the beauty of the city I have always loved.”
Coit had a long and special relationship with
the city’s firefighters that started when she
was just 15 years old. At that time, she saw
Knickerbocker Engine Co. 5 called to a fire
on Telegraph Hill and she rallied a group of
bystanders to help the engine get up the hill
to the fire. From then on, she often rode with
Knickerbocker Engine
Co. Number 5, and she
was even recognized as
an honorary firefighter.
Today, she is still remem-
bered as the matron
saint of San Francisco
firefighters.

The tower’s rich history and architectural appeal draw in locals and visitors alike. The view from the observation deck at the top of the 210-foot tower showcases the dynamic city at its best.

“You can take in how San Francisco as a city and a county has developed over the years,” said Connie Chan, deputy director of public affairs with the city’s Recreation and Park Department, which manages the tower. Maps inside Coit Tower illustrate how San Francisco has changed and visitors can compare these maps to what they see in “real-time” at the top of the observation deck.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE COIT TOWER MURALS, DONE IN FRESCO TECHNIQUE.

ART DECO
MASTERPIECE

The tower was designed by the firm of architect Arthur Brown Jr., and took five years to build.

With an art deco style and unpainted reinforced concrete, Coit Tower is both an architectural and historical gem. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

REFRESHING FRESCOES

Along with the breathtaking views, the tower is adorned with 27 murals on the first and second floors of the tower. The murals on the first floor are open to the public, while the second floor is only accessible during once-a-week tours. The Coit Tower murals were funded by the federal government through the Public Works Art Project, a precursor to Works Progress Administration (WPA)-era programs that supported artists. The murals are treasured by locals and tourists, and are lauded as one of the most successful examples of public art throughout the United States.

“They are just fantastic,” said Allison Cummings, senior registrar for the Civic Art Collection with the San Francisco Arts Commission. “They are such a priceless cultural asset for this city. People are amazed to walk in and see them. They are a really neat example of architecturally integrated pieces of art.”