Barbary Coast Trail–Embarcadero – Fisherman’s Wharf to Nob Hill

I had seen so much already on my 1st day of sightseeing in San Francisco. And I still had so much more to see!

Here, have an ice cream! Then, we've got more hiking to do. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Here, have an ice cream! Then, we’ve got more hiking to do.

Embarcadero – Fisherman’s Wharf

View of Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf. Anytime you're near the water in San Francisco, you just can't escape from Alcatraz! I got up close and personal with Alcatraz on Day 6. Alcatraz, San Francisco, United States, North America. — View of Alcatraz from Fisherman’s Wharf. Anytime you’re near the water in San Francisco, you just can’t escape from Alcatraz! I got up close and personal with Alcatraz on Day 6.

To be blunt, San Franciscans hate Fisherman’s Wharf. Too touristy. But there are some decent attractions there. I checked out a couple of them on Day 1, knowing I’d be returning to give Fisherman’s Wharf the full treatment later on in the sightseeing season. I actually really enjoyed my time there. It certainly didn’t hurt that the weather was perfect.

SS Jeremiah O’Brien

My first sight to see at Fisherman’s wharf was the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II cargo ship. Touring the ship really brought back my Navy days.

A little something for the sailors. (You could get away with this in the 1940s.) San Francisco, United States, North America. — A little something for the sailors. (You could get away with this in the 1940s.)

Seaman Billy reporting for duty! Well, this would have been new for me as I wore the Richard Gere "An Officer and a Gentleman" uniform when I was in the Navy. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Seaman Billy reporting for duty! Well, this would have been new for me as I wore the Richard Gere “An Officer and a Gentleman” uniform when I was in the Navy.

Beautiful view of Telegraph Hill (with Coit Tower) and the Financial District from the deck of the "SS Jeremiah". San Francisco, United States, North America. — Beautiful view of Telegraph Hill (with Coit Tower) and the Financial District from the deck of the SS *Jeremiah O’Brien*.

You just can't get too many views of the Golden Gate Bridge, especially on such a gorgeous day. Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, United States, North America. — You just can’t get too many views of the Golden Gate Bridge, especially on such a gorgeous day.

Checking out the engine room REALLY brought back my Navy days. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Checking out the engine room REALLY brought back my Navy days.

Musée Mécanique

Another worthwhile Fisherman’s Wharf attraction I checked out was Musée Mécanique. As with the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, I hadn’t heard of it before planning out my day. It’s a large arcade, free to enter, packed with arcade games from the present, recent past, and distant past. The old-time games are, of course, the most fun.

Play ball! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Play ball!

Put in a coin, and everyone in the cantina will dance for you. Let's say that it celebrates Mexican culture. And I love how the restrooms are prominently featured! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Put in a coin, and everyone in the cantina will dance for you. Let’s say that it celebrates Mexican culture. And I love how the restrooms are prominently featured!

Okay, this one is just racist. It's called Opium Den. Put in a coin, and the Chinese people start smoking opium. A skeleton comes out of the closet on the left, and a snake comes through window behind the Chinese man sitting at the table. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Okay, this one is just racist. It’s called Opium Den. Put in a coin, and the Chinese people start smoking opium. A skeleton comes out of the closet on the left, and a snake comes through window behind the Chinese man sitting at the table.

The Real Fisherman’s Wharf

I make new friends wherever I go! San Francisco, United States, North America. — I make new friends wherever I go!

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park/Ghirardelli Square

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is a great site if you’re a fan of the nautical world. I spent much more time here on Day 6, but I took a few pictures on Day 1. Ghirardelli Square, located immediately to the south, is pretty much a tourist trap. But as I found out, they have pretty good ice cream there!

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is loaded with nautical goodies. Here is the sternwheel from the "Petaluma", the last of San Francisco's riverboats. The "Petaluma" was retired in 1950 and, sadly, burned and sank in 1956. The wheel (18-foot diamter) lives on! San Francisco, United States, North America. — San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park is loaded with nautical goodies. Here is the sternwheel from the “Petaluma”, the last of San Francisco’s riverboats. The “Petaluma” was retired in 1950 and, sadly, burned and sank in 1956. The wheel (18-foot diameter) lives on!

Looking up from Aquatic Park to the Big G. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Looking up from Aquatic Park to the Big G.

Oh look, a cable car! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Oh look, a cable car!

Nob Hill

After Ghirardelli Square, the Barbary Coast Trail becomes a ride when you get to take a cable car up and over Russian Hill to Nob Hill. Nob Hill is the tallest of Downtown San Francisco’s 3 hills. It’s so tall that horse-driven carriages couldn’t make it to the top. The first cable car ascended Nob Hill in 1873, suddenly making Nob Hill an attractive residential area. Soon, the richest of the rich built mansions on top of the hill. Nob Hill was named after these super-rich, who were nicknamed “Nobs”. (This was short for nobles or nabobs, depending on the source.)

The Fairmont San Francisco! The Fairmont was my home-away-from-home in San Francisco in a past life when I was an illustrious accountant in the luxury hotel business. The Fairmont was set to open within days when the 1906 earthquake struck. It survived the quake but was gutted by the ensuing fire. The Fairmont was named for U.S. Senator James Graham Fair by his daughters. James was a silver king who made a fortune on the Comstock Lode. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The Fairmont San Francisco! The Fairmont was my home-away-from-home in San Francisco in a past life when I was an illustrious accountant in the luxury hotel business. The Fairmont was set to open within days when the 1906 earthquake struck. It survived the quake but was gutted by the ensuing fire. The Fairmont was named for U.S. Senator James Graham Fair by his daughters. James was a silver king who made a fortune on the Comstock Lode.

The most famous of the super-rich Nobs were the Big Four, railroad tycoons and philanthropists who built the western portion of the first transcontinental railroad, needed to reach gold-rich California. Their legacies and names live on:

Leland Stanford drove the Golden Spike that joined East and West via rail. He went on to found Stanford University. His Nob Hill mansion was destroyed in the earthquake. The site is now home to the Stanford Court Hotel, where the cable car lines cross.
Collis Huntington is the namesake of the Huntington Hotel, built across the street from the site of his Nob Hill mansion (which was destroyed in the earthquake). Huntington, West Virgina was named after him. (It was the western terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, which he built.) His nephew Henry founded the Huntington Library outside LA and also rejuvenated a closed hotel in Pasadena, which he renamed the Huntington Hotel.
Mark Hopkins built a mansion on Nob Hill. It eventually was left to the San Francisco Art Association, precursor to the San Francisco Art Institute. The building was destroyed in the fire that followed the earthquake. The hotel that bears Mark’s name now stands on the site.
Charles Crocker went on to serve as president of Wells Fargo for a while. Until I sold it, I used to park my car in the garage on Nob Hill named for him. (The Nob Hill rates were a bit much for me.) The garage was built on the site of his mansion that was…surprise!…destroyed by the earthquake. The Westin St. Francis was originally to have been named the Crocker Hotel. It was built by his estate. The Crocker Galleria, a shopping mall downtown, was named for him.

The Mark Hopkins Hotel, with the legendary Top of the Mark on the top floor. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The Mark Hopkins Hotel, with the legendary Top of the Mark on the top floor.

The Flood Mansion, built by silver king James Flood (namesake of the Flood building) in 1886, was the only Nob Hill mansion to survive the earthquake and fire. It was the first brownstone in the West. It now houses the Pacific-Union Club, a gentlemen-only club founded in 1889. Charles Crocker's son William was a past president. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The Flood Mansion, built by silver king James Flood (namesake of the Flood building) in 1886, was the only Nob Hill mansion to survive the earthquake and fire. It was the first brownstone in the West. It now houses the Pacific-Union Club, a gentlemen-only club founded in 1889. Charles Crocker’s son William was a past president.

Whimsical fountain in Huntington Park, built on the site of Collis Huntington's destroyed mansion. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Whimsical fountain in Huntington Park, built on the site of Collis Huntington’s destroyed mansion.

Grace Cathedral

Inside Grace Cathedral. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Inside Grace Cathedral.

Saint Francis statue by Beniamino Bufano. Is it bad that I think it looks like an Anonymous Guy Fawkes mask? San Francisco, United States, North America. — Saint Francis statue by Beniamino Bufano. Is it bad that I think it looks like an Anonymous Guy Fawkes mask?

The labyrinth in Grace Cathedral is based on a medieval labyrinth in the cathedral in Chartres, France. Walk it and meditate. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The labyrinth in Grace Cathedral is based on a medieval labyrinth in the cathedral in Chartres, France. Walk it and meditate.

I am very confused about the windows at Grace Cathedral. I thought I was taking pictures of windows memorializing Albert Einstein and John Glenn. But this one tells the creation story. San Francisco, United States, North America. — I am very confused about the windows at Grace Cathedral. I thought I was taking pictures of windows memorializing Albert Einstein and John Glenn. But this one tells the creation story.

This one tells the story of Jesus and St. John the Baptist. I'll have to go back to find Albert Einstein, John Glenn, and other secular heroes. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This one tells the story of Jesus and St. John the Baptist. I’ll have to go back to find Albert Einstein, John Glenn, and other secular heroes.

Keith Haring's stunning "The Life of Christ" altarpiece in the AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel. Keith completed it shortly before his death from AIDS in 1990. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Keith Haring’s stunning “The Life of Christ” altarpiece in the AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel. Keith completed it shortly before his death from AIDS in 1990.

A panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt hanging in the AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt hanging in the AIDS Interfaith Memorial Chapel.

There is another labyrinth outside Grace Cathedral. San Francisco, United States, North America. — There is another labyrinth outside Grace Cathedral.

Nob Hill Masonic Center

A sneak peak inside to Emile Nomann's mosaic window depicting various professions throughout the history of California. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A sneak peak inside to Emile Nomann’s mosaic window depicting various professions throughout the history of California.

Nob Hill Architecture

Behind the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the remaining wall and turret from Mark Hopkins's mansion. (In the background is the former Bank of America Center. Built as the headquarters of Bank of America in 1969, it was the tallest building in the West until the Transamerica Pyramid was built.) San Francisco, United States, North America. — Behind the Mark Hopkins Hotel, the remaining wall and turret from Mark Hopkins’s mansion. (In the background is the former Bank of America Center. Built as the headquarters of Bank of America in 1969, it was the tallest building in the West until the Transamerica Pyramid was built.)

Not quite the mansions of the past, but cool residential architecture on the slopes of Nob Hill. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Not quite the mansions of the past, but cool residential architecture on the slopes of Nob Hill.

The Fairmont

Top of the Mark

Grace Cathedral on the left. The Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. It's not really a view unless you can see the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Grace Cathedral on the left. The Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. It’s not really a view unless you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.

I took this picture because my building can be seen in it. It's pretty small, so I'm not going to bother pointing it out. However... San Francisco, United States, North America. — I took this picture because my building can be seen in it. It’s pretty small, so I’m not going to bother pointing it out. However…

Home sweet home on Nob Hill! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Home sweet home on Nob Hill!

What a day! What a city!

[Factual information is primarily gathered from Wikipedia, so you know it must be true. Information is also gathered from “The Official Guide To San Francisco’s Barbary Coast Trail.]