Lands End

Day 3 had gotten off to a good start. Then it was time to head into one of San Francisco’s premier art museums. And finally I took a walk along the rocky coast lining San Francisco’s northeast corner. The views were unbelievable.

I know some of you don’t care for museums. If that’s you, feel free to scroll through the art below. It’s not like I’ll call you uncultured. I’d never do that.

Legion of Honor

The Legion of Honor is the 2nd of the 2 museums that comprise the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. I visited the other one, the de Young Museum on Day 1. Speaking generally, but not strictly, the de Young features art on the modern and contemporary side of things, while the Legion of Honor largely exhibits earlier, more traditional Western art.

The façade of the Legion of Honor, seen from the fountain out front. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The façade of the Legion of Honor, seen from the fountain out front.

Legion of Honor is a replica of the French Pavilion at the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition. (You might remember that the Palace of Fine Arts was also built for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition.) The French Pavilion itself was a 3/4 scale version of the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur in Paris.

The Legion of Honor has a significant collection of works by Rodin. I "think" so, anyway. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The Legion of Honor has a significant collection of works by Rodin. I “think” so, anyway.

The Legion of Honor was prominently featured in Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

A late 14th-century birth salver. Birth salvers were painted trays given as gifts after births that resulted in healthy mothers and infants in Tuscany. This salver depicts the myth of Diana and Actaeon. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A late 14th-century birth salver. Birth salvers were painted trays given as gifts after births that resulted in healthy mothers and infants in Tuscany. This salver depicts the myth of Diana and Actaeon.

A late 15th-century French depiction in limestone of the Holy Trinity. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A late 15th-century French depiction in limestone of the Holy Trinity.

15th-century carved, painted, and gilded ceiling from a palace near Toledo, Spain. It is created in the Mudéjar style, a blend of Gothic and Islamic. San Francisco, United States, North America. — 15th-century carved, painted, and gilded ceiling from a palace near Toledo, Spain. It is created in the Mudéjar style, a blend of Gothic and Islamic.

The central panel from a Last Judgment triptych from Bavaria c. 1500. San Francisco, United States, North America. — The central panel from a Last Judgment triptych from Bavaria c. 1500.

Saint Francis Venerating the Crucifix, El Greco (c. 1595). El Greco is always my favorite Spanish Renaissance artist. His work always seems unexpectedly modern. San Francisco, United States, North America. — *Saint Francis Venerating the Crucifix*, El Greco (c. 1595). El Greco is always my favorite Spanish Renaissance artist. His work always seems unexpectedly modern.

18th-century French décor. San Francisco, United States, North America. — 18th-century French décor.

Portrait of Pope Clement XII (Lorenzo Corsini), by French artist Edmé Bouchardon (after 1730) in terracotta and tinted plaster. San Francisco, United States, North America. — *Portrait of Pope Clement XII (Lorenzo Corsini)*, by French artist Edmé Bouchardon (after 1730) in terracotta and tinted plaster.

Scene from a 17th-century French paneled room. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Scene from a 17th-century French paneled room.

Rodin's The Three Shades (1898) in a dramatic setting. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Rodin’s *The Three Shades* (1898) in a dramatic setting.

Rodin's bronze of Victor Hugo (1883). San Francisco, United States, North America. — Rodin’s bronze of Victor Hugo (1883).

Rodin's The Call to Arms (1879). San Francisco, United States, North America. — Rodin’s *The Call to Arms* (1879).

French artist Carolus-Duran painting of his daughter Marie-Anne (1874). Very cute! San Francisco, United States, North America. — French artist Carolus-Duran painting of his daughter Marie-Anne (1874). Very cute!

The Russian Bride's Attire, Konstantin Makovsky (1889). Very dramatic! San Francisco, United States, North America. — *The Russian Bride’s Attire*, Konstantin Makovsky (1889). Very dramatic!

Le Chinois, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (c. 1872), a bronze bust. San Francisco, United States, North America. — *Le Chinois*, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (c. 1872), a bronze bust.

The Absinthe Drinkers, Jean-Francois Raffaëlli (1881). Raffaëlli's depiction of ordinary scenes of ordinary lives caused a sensation in Paris. San Francisco, United States, North America. — *The Absinthe Drinkers*, Jean-Francois Raffaëlli (1881). Raffaëlli’s depiction of ordinary scenes of ordinary lives caused a sensation in Paris.

Everybody loves Monet's paintings of water lilies! San Francisco, United States, North America. — Everybody loves Monet’s paintings of water lilies!

Bit by bit, putting it together! Georges Seurat, Eiffel Tower (c. 1889). San Francisco, United States, North America. — Bit by bit, putting it together! Georges Seurat, *Eiffel Tower* (c. 1889).

This frightened harlequin in 18th-century German porcelain doesn't want us to leave the Legion of Honor. But we have places to go. San Francisco, United States, North America. — This frightened harlequin in 18th-century German porcelain doesn’t want us to leave the Legion of Honor. But we have places to go.

Lands End

Okay, enough with the art. Let’s take in some incredible views from Lands End. Fortunately, as with the previous 2 sightseeing days, I had fabulous weather, something you usually can’t count on in San Francisco.

A lovely westward view from Lands End. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A lovely westward view from Lands End.

The whole Lands End area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Looking down at the Lands End Labyrinth. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Looking down at the Lands End Labyrinth.

Dramatic shoreline at Lands End. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Dramatic shoreline at Lands End.

On the beach at Lands End. San Francisco, United States, North America. — On the beach at Lands End.

One last view of the Golden Gate Bridge. San Francisco, United States, North America. — One last view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

USS San Francisco Memorial at Lands End. The USS San Francisco was one of the most decorated ships of World War II. The memorial includes a plaque honoring the over 100 men who died aboard the ship. San Francisco, United States, North America. — USS San Francisco Memorial at Lands End. The USS San Francisco was one of the most decorated ships of World War II. The memorial includes a plaque honoring the over 100 men who died aboard the ship.

Sutro Baths

It was somewhat jarring to turn a corner and come across this unusual view. San Francisco, United States, North America. — It was somewhat jarring to turn a corner and come across this unusual view.

Sutro Baths was built in 1896 as an enormous saltwater swimming complex and the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment. A glass enclosure contained 7 swimming pools with water maintained at various temperatures.

Seal Rocks, lined with birds catching some late-afternoon sun. San Francisco, United States, North America. — Seal Rocks, lined with birds catching some late-afternoon sun.

Sutro Baths was a wonder, but it wasn’t financially successful. It was being demolished in 1966 was a fire broke, later determined to be arson. All that’s left is the ruins that make up a San Francisco curiosity.

A striking view of Seal Rocks. San Francisco, United States, North America. — A striking view of Seal Rocks.

Most of the Lands End shoreline runs east-west along the Golden Gate. Sutro Baths is at the point where the shoreline turns to the south and San Francisco faces the open ocean.