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 Hand-constructed five-story temple |
720 Washington Street San Francisco, CA 94108 United States +1 415 982 6116 / +1 415 982 6117 / +1 415 982 6118 http://www.bucsf.org/ |
Colorful murals and tile mosaics cover this five-story building. It was constructed by hand as an act of faith in 1961. This beautiful temple is a center of worship for San Francisco's Buddhist population. Its roof garden affords a panoramic view of The City while the interior is serenely lovely, decorated with traditional Buddhist motifs. The temple is open, free of charge, to visitors on the second and fourth Sundays of the month excepting the months of February and March. Admission is free; donations are accepted. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Glen Bolosan |
 Photo: Todd Webber  |
 Photo: Chris Tennyson |
 Secrets Revealed! |
1201 Mason St (at the corner of Washington Street) San Francisco, CA 94108 United States +1 415 474 1887 http://www.cablecarmuseum.com/ |
If you want to know how a cable car works, this is the place to learn. The world's first cable car rests here and with it a concise explanation of how those little cable cars go halfway to the stars. In an underground viewing area, you can look at the system's enormous cable wheels (in use!), which pull 11 miles of cable at 9.5 miles per hour. The cable cars move by clamping onto it. Examine closely the steel cables, gears, and pulleys that bring this city's most famous transportation to life. Don't miss the gift shop, where you can purchase your very own length of used cable! Admission is free. Ramp and elevators for disabled visitors are provided at the Washington street side of the building. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: William Ward |
 Photo: Jon Parise |
 Photo: Jason C. Townsend |
 Photo: theDawg |
 Photo: Kai Schreiber |
 Photo: Katie Idell |
 Photo: Lee Chakov |
 Photo: CV Canon shooter |
 Photo: Edwin Shannon |
 Photo: Gadi Golan |
 Photo: Alan Baker |
 Photo: Jen Zajac |
 Photo: Chris Huybregts |
 Photo: Jean Pierre Wenzel |
 Photo: s__i |
 Photo: matthew_machine |
 Photo: Mike Stenhouse |
 Photo: Maximiliano Noguera |
 San Francisco Trademark |
1201 Mason St (@ Washington St) Division Headquarters and Museum San Francisco, CA 94108 United States 311 (SF); 511 (Bay Area); +1 415 701 2311 (elsewhere); +1 415 701 2323 (TTY) http://www.sfmta.com/cablecar |
Once the most popular from of public transportation for early San Franciscans, the cable cars have become a major tourist attraction. It's still a reliable and scenic way to travel around parts of the city. There are three lines : Powell- Hyde (Powell-Market, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Hyde and Beach), Powell-Mason (Powell-Market, Nob Hill, North Beach, Bay and Taylor) and California Street (California and Market, Embarcadero BART/MUNI, Financial District, Chinatown, Nob Hill to Van Ness). Fare is $5 one -way. Tickets or a MUNI passport can be bought from the conductor or from booths at Powell and Market or Hyde and Beach near Fisherman's Wharf. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Silvio Tanaka Fonseca |
 Photo: heydrienne |
 Photo: Micke Kazarnowicz |
 Photo: Micke Kazarnowicz |
 Photo: jstubbles |
 Photo: Kash Cashell |
 Photo: Mark Johnston |
 Photo: patriciomr |
 Photo: Georg Müller |
 Photo: Mark Hardy |
 Photo: John Cavanagh |
 Photo: Brandon Haffner |
 Photo: Bert |
 Photo: Sebastien Stormacq |
 Photo: Kate McDonald |
 Photo: John MacEnulty |
 Photo: Ben Wiseman |
 Photo: Paul Sisler |
 Photo: fantastic.sean |
 Photo: danae luv |
 Photo: Lou Alexander |
 Photo: Ryan Nowell |
 Photo: Erik & Julie |
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Antique shopping smorgasbord |
445 Jackson Street San Francisco, CA 94111 United States +1 415 398 9099 http://www.ktaylor-lotus.com/ |
A stroll through historic Jackson Square will send you back to the 1850's era with its sturdy commercial buildings that are sturdy enough to have survived two of San Francisco's major earthquakes. Tucked behind the shock of the TransAmerica Pyramid, this fine collection of purveyors of antiques, decorations, and objects of art is the largest collection of its kind this side of the Mississippi. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: wcities |
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Historic Chinese temple |
855 Stockton Street (at the corner of Clay Street) San Francisco, CA 94108 United States +1 415 788 1339 |
This old temple (founded 1857) housed in a new building (built in 1977) that also houses the Chinatown Post Office is located on the fourth floor. It is a large light-filled room with stark white walls and a pyramid-shaped ceiling with a skylight at its apex. The elaborate altar displays the deity Kuan Ti with attendant deities. The altar and other carved panels were moved from the original temple nearby and are beautifully gilded and carved in amazing detail. The view from the balcony, one of the nicest in Chinatown, includes the Transamerica Pyramid. A temple story has it that Harry Truman visited the temples old location just before the 1948 election and made an offering for good luck. It may have done the trick. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Trevor Attridge |
 Photo: Trevor Attridge |
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San Franciscos oldest Buddhist temple |
109 Waverly Street (Third Floor) San Francisco, CA 94108 United States |
This serene space is the oldest Buddhist Temple in San Francisco, dating back more than 50 years. Named in honor of the Norras Buddhist Temple in Tibet, many of the symbols here derive from Tibetan Buddhism. The shrine shows a triple-display of Buddha and his acolytes in attitudes of compassion and joy. The altar is gilded wood imported from China in 1959. Note the pair of three-dimensional mandalas shaped like golden mountains, five feet high, and containing hundreds of tiny windows with even tinier Buddhas sitting inside. At the flick of a switch, they spin to the sound of Chinese music. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Al Billings |
 Photo: Al Billings |
 Photo: mollypitcher |
 Photo: mollypitcher |
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Pacific Rim museum |
608 Commercial Street (between Montgomery and Kearny streets) San Francisco, CA 94111 United States +1 415 399 1124 http://www.ibankunited.com/phm... |
This private museum, established in 1984 by the Bank of Canton, features Pacific Rim art, culture, and history exhibits. Learn more about the Pacific Rim economic history. View sculptures and paintings by renowned and emerging artists. The 10,000 square feet of this Embarcadero District museum resides in the historic US Subtreasury Building, which was used as a U.S. Mint until 1874. Find featured exhibits that are periodically rotated as well as permanent displays. Free admission. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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The Beat Goes On |
1345 Grant Ave San Francisco, CA 94133 United States +1 800 537 6822 / +1 831 372 4911 http://www.thebeatmuseum.org |
Located in North Beach, The Beat Museum celebrates Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and all who influenced the Beat Generation. Offering a variety of Beat memorabilia and paraphernalia including fine art, prints, posters, photos, new and used books, CDs, DVDs, t-shirts and more, this is a must stop for all collectors and Kerouac fans. The Museum also hosts open mike poetry nights, movie screenings, and other cultural events. Check out their website for further details. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Arthur Cole |
 Photo: Amy Leader |
 Photo: Adam Monier |
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San Francisco's oldest Chinese temple |
125 Waverly Street San Francisco, CA 94123 United States |
You reach the oldest Chinese temple in San Francisco (founded 1852) by climbing three flights of steep and narrow stairs in the heart of Chinatown. Once there, after catching your breath, your breath may very well be taken away again. The west wall of this tiny temple is an expanse of intricately carved gilded wood housing the shrine to Tin How, the goddess of Heaven. From the ceiling hang hundreds of paper lanterns, each bearing the name (in Chinese characters) of the person for whom it is intended to bring long life and happiness. Admission is free. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Landmark office building |
600 Montgomery St (at Columbus Avenue) San Francisco, CA 94111 United States +1 415 983 4100 http://www.tapyramid.com/ |
As much a trademark of The City's skyline as the Golden Gate Bridge, this 853-foot high masterpiece, the tallest office tower in The City, is headquarters to some of San Francisco's most powerful companies. Unfortunately, the elevator, which ascends to the building's uppermost heights, is no longer open to the public. Fortunately, rooftop video cameras allow visitors to "virtually see" the bird's-eye view from the comfort of the lobby. Outside, a man-made Redwood Park offers a welcome green oasis within the concrete jungle. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: myleen hollero |
 Photo: greg |
 Photo: Dave Parry |
 Photo: Brent Edwards |
 Photo: Darren David |
 Photo: Alessandro Stenico |
 Photo: Zachary Bruns |
 Photo: Ron Gilbert |
 Photo: Robert Fraser |
 Photo: chrischapman |
 Photo: Ben Brophy |
 Photo: Steve Pilton |
 Photo: Sila Huerta |
 Photo: Matt Bucher |
 Photo: stickle_brick |
 Photo: Alejandra Garcia |
 Photo: John Adams |
 Photo: Roman Stanek |
 Photo: Justin Heideman |
 Photo: Rachel |
 Photo: Matthew Levine |
 Photo: Lily L. |
 Photo: Madame Kno |
 Photo: purple phoenix |
 Photo: chia777 |
 Photo: M Loya-Talamantes |
 Photo: kris fenrich |
 Photo: audrey |
 Photo: Harm Frielink |
 Photo: Jay Chellappan |
 Photo: Claire Tannam |
 Photo: Caesar Cy |
 Photo: Kathryn Carless |
 Photo: Parag Shah |
 Photo: Andrecx |
 Photo: Ute Müller |
