San Francisco is home to numerous historic places that will take you back in time, from Alcatraz, America’s most notorious prison, to Lotta’s Fountain in honor of a saloon girl from the Gold Rush period.
Mission Dolores, built in 1776 and boasting a grand basilica church built during the 1920s is the city’s oldest building.
Fort Point
Fort Point is often neglected as one of the Bay Area’s premier military sites; yet its striking brick casemates and stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge should make it part of any San Francisco visitor’s bucket list.
Fort Point lies directly under the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge and was designed to protect the narrows of San Francisco Bay. First fortified by Spain in 1794 with Castillo de San Joaquin – an enclosed structure capable of housing approximately 10 cannons – this fort has stood strong ever since.
After an extended period of peace, Fort Scott was reoccupied during the American Civil War and continued being used until World War II. Now recognized as a National Historic Site, you can explore its vast grounds on foot or up onto its rooftop where cannons were once mounted; evening candlelight tours or annual Civil War reenactments.
The San Francisco Mint
One of the most dazzling venues in San Francisco, this 1874 Greek-revival stunner from 1874 stands as a California Historical Landmark. Once housing one-third of America’s gold supply and withstanding even earthquake-damage during 1906 thanks to its solid construction. Now this historic landmark provides a grand yet intimate venue perfect for hosting your special occasion!
The San Francisco Mint opened in 1874 and quickly became a hub of financial activity, serving as a foundry, fortress, and public bank over its years of operation. Due to its solid construction and dedicated employees battling fire for seven hours with water hoses, this building survived both earthquakes and fires without being severely damaged.
Site selection was determined by the California Gold Rush which caused a national shortage of legal tender gold coins for Western frontier territories. Construction took place as part of Works Progress Administration program which employed unemployed workers by providing them with meaningful government projects instead of aid roles.
Notre-Dame-Des-Victoires
The Basilica of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is one of ten minor basilicas in Paris and was constructed beginning in 1629 under the instigation and funding from Louis XIII at their request, citing Our Lady as “Our Lady of Victories” due to her protection over her subjects and above all for helping win over rebellious heretics at La Rochelle Siege.
This church features an expansive glazed apse. Within, there are various chapels dedicated to saints and devotions; Saint Therese of Lisieux was an 18th century French Carmelite nun credited with having found respite from tuberculosis by praying at this shrine.
As The French Church, this landmark stands as the focal point for San Francisco’s early ethnic communities – especially French immigrants who arrived here as far back as 1848. Additionally, its ex-voto collection represents people thanking Our Lady for answers to prayers.
Sutro Baths
On the western edge of Lands End lies what remains of a working bath house dating back 100 years. Best visited during golden hour or sunset, this stunning site makes an excellent stop when hiking or exploring Lands End – particularly on sunny days with magnificent Pacific panoramas.
Self-made millionaire Adolph Sutro constructed his vast baths as an entertainment and dining destination in 1894 as part of his plan to become one. This complex featured six saltwater pools filled by daily tides, an onsite natural history museum featuring taxidermy and European art, plus many entertainment and dining options.
Sutro Baths offered three pools at different temperatures, equipped with slides, trapezes, rings and diving platforms – plus amphitheater and restaurants – before eventually going bankrupt due to high operating costs and changing social attitudes; being burned down under suspicious circumstances later that same year (in 1966). Their remains now form part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
