SAN FRANCISCO THE CITY BY THE BAY By Ryan Cook

Attractions AND Their History The Golden Gate Bridge Alcatraz The Japanese Tea Gardens Ghirardelli Square Coit Tower

The Golden Gate Bridge Opened in 1937, the bridge has remained undamaged. Because of the ferry congestion, James Wilkins, an editor for the San Francisco Call Bulletin, revived the idea of building a bridge in 1916. Strauss, an Ohio-born engineer specializing in bridge building, submitted preliminary sketches to O'Shaughnessy with a cost estimate of 27 million dollars on June 28, 1921. The Golden Gate Bridge was completed a little more than four years after its commencement at a final cost of $35,500,000 and was completed on May 27, 1937. The Golden Gate Bridge Connects the northern tip of San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County.

Alcatraz Alcatraz, an island in San Francisco Bay, California, was discovered by Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century. The United States took possession of the island in 1850 from the Spanish and fortified it, using it first as a military prison and later as a federal prison, beginning in 1933. Because of the strong, cold currents surrounding the island, most authorities considered it escape proof. Of the twenty-six prisoners who attempted escapes, five remain unaccounted for. Because Alcatraz cost so much more to run than other prisons, then Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy ordered Alcatraz to be closed on March 21, 1963. Alcatraz is suspected to be haunted and has had several movies made in its honor such as Escape from Alcatraz, Birdman of Alcatraz, and Murder in the First.

THE Japanese Tea Gardens Designed by Makoto Hagiwara for the 1894 World’s Fair. It is made up of an intricate complex of paths, ponds and a teahouse featuring native Japanese and Chinese plants. Japanese foliage located in the garden are maples, cherry trees, cedars and the bonsai. There is also a 1790 bronze Buddha, a Shinto wooden pagoda as well as other sculptures located within the parks five acres. The Zen Garden located in the park was designed by Nagao Sakurai. It symbolizes a miniature mountain scene with a stone waterfall and small island surrounded by a gravel river, and was dedicated at the same time as the Lantern of Peace installation in 1953. The Japanese Gardens are actually a section within Golden Gate Park, and cost a fee of $4 to tour.

Ghirardelli Square In 1852, Domingo Ghirardelli forms a new confectionery company that is to become the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. In 1893 the company has grown so large that it buys a woolen mill building and moves to its present location. In 1962 two prominent San Franciscans acquired the property and turn it into Ghirardelli Square. In 1982 Ghirardelli Chocolate Company was granted National Historic Register Status. Ghirardelli is not only known for chocolate, but they are also known for ice cream and other delicious treats.

Coit Tower Built in 1933 from the funds of the eccentric Lillie Hitchcock Coit. She inherently believed in San Francisco and maintaining it's beauty. Coit Tower was built by Arthur Brown Junior on Telegraph Hill and is 87M tall. Lillie Hitchcock Coit was a big supporter of the San Francisco firemen. Thus, she donated Coit Tower to San Francisco and all San Francisco's Firemen. Coit Tower can be seen from nearly anywhere in San Francisco.

QUESTIONS?

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