Note:
The original plan after the walking tour of the Wharf was to take a ferry to Alcatraz. The website stated the Ferry’s run every 15 minutes, and that you could purchase tickets in advance or at the pier. Since I had invited a number of family members to join us, I wasn’t sure how many tickets we would need, so I did not purchase tickets in advance. Apparently this was a mistake, as the tickets were sold out for the next 8 days (very unusual according to the wharf).
The original plan after the walking tour of the Wharf was to take a ferry to Alcatraz. The website stated the Ferry’s run every 15 minutes, and that you could purchase tickets in advance or at the pier. Since I had invited a number of family members to join us, I wasn’t sure how many tickets we would need, so I did not purchase tickets in advance. Apparently this was a mistake, as the tickets were sold out for the next 8 days (very unusual according to the wharf).
So as an alternative plan, we ended up purchasing tickets to
the bus tours around San Francisco.
While I was devastated not to go to Alcatraz (one of the items I wanted
most to see), the bus tours offered the chance to see and hear about a number
of other sites around San Francisco that I would not have seen otherwise.
What I saw:
What I learned:
I learned quite a bit about the cultural and social impacts
of some of the regions around San Francisco.
I had researched the China town portion and the cultural impacts of the
Earthquake on that region, but the tour also pointed out the cultural shifts in
each area. The Haight/Ashbury area was
the origination of the hippie movement.
Individuals such a Jimi Hendrix lived in the area. Similarly, almost all areas were impacted by
the 1906 earthquake. At each stop/check
point the tour guide pointed out some of the shifts in either architecture, or
social habits that were a result of the 1906 earthquake.
What I appreciated most:
I was especially glad that by participating in this tour I
was able to see the Painted Ladies, the Palace of Fine Arts (though we did not
stop there due to time concerns), Japantown, Chinatown, Hippie Square, and
more. I had not planned time for any of
these sites, and am exceptionally thankful that I was able to take this tour to
see some of these unique San Francisco sites.
By not worrying about navigation and driving, I was also able to enjoy
the urban architecture of the areas, catching Victorian, Edwardian, Craftsman,
Streamline Moderne, International, and all sorts of other architectural styles
that I missed the first day when we were driving.
Teachers note for future trip:
First: book tickets to Alcatraz early. Apparently they do sell out! Second, learn to be flexible. No amount of planning can compensate for
unexpected circumstances that are out of your control (i.e. the trolley’s being
full and having to walk 2 miles to reach the tour, luckily we had planned for
extra time just in case). Third, just
start with the Bus Tours. Man I wish I
knew that before we came. I could have hit
all the sites I wanted (including Alcatraz, had I bought the tickets in
advance). The bus tour we went on was operated
by San Francisco Deluxe Sightseeing Tours, which offered buses every 30
minutes. However, I would use Big Bus
Tours for the future, as they offered buses every 15 minutes, which is more
convenient for the hop on/hop off feature that I would want to hit all the
stops.
Images:
There were way too many images to narrow down to just 5, so I am including my 7 favorite images.
Picture #1
Picture #1
I selected this image because this is a quintessential photo of what the homes in downtown San Francisco look like. No other town has this sort of town home style building. The arched windows, the protruding bay window, the cornices at the roof, and corinthian columns at the door. These are all images of the Italianate home style that is so prevalent.
Picture #2
I selected this photo, as it was a nice contrast to the over styled Victorian homes that were throughout the town. This building was very streamlined, yet interesting due to the curved bump-outs at the window bays. The glass-block forms between the window panes makes me believe this was built in the mid 1970's.
Picture #3
This is the conservatory of flowers at the Golden Gate Park. What is hard to tell is that this entire building is made frame painted glass panes. They are assembled together with simple frames to create a greenhouse home for a variety of flowers. If we had more time, this would be one of the stops I would encourage students to get out and explore more.
Picture #4
Picture #2
I selected this photo, as it was a nice contrast to the over styled Victorian homes that were throughout the town. This building was very streamlined, yet interesting due to the curved bump-outs at the window bays. The glass-block forms between the window panes makes me believe this was built in the mid 1970's.
Picture #3
This is the conservatory of flowers at the Golden Gate Park. What is hard to tell is that this entire building is made frame painted glass panes. They are assembled together with simple frames to create a greenhouse home for a variety of flowers. If we had more time, this would be one of the stops I would encourage students to get out and explore more.
Picture #4
This home is designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style of building. It was created for the Golden Gate Park founder and is a good example of the early Victorian Style.
Picture #5
This is a quick shot of one of the buildings at Haight and Ashbury, better known as Hippie Town. This area was full of buildings that were painted similarly reflecting the anti-establishment movement that was made popular during the Hippie Revolution. I appreciated the tour guides insights to the changes that were made to the design of this area due to the social hippie movement.
Picture #6
There were a variety of churches in the area. This one stood out to me due to it's simple design. There are not many windows, decorative trim pieces, or other details. This simple design stood out amongst the rows and rows of elaborate houses.
Picture #7
This last photo I selected because this Victorian home stood out to me as a classic example of Victorian Architecture. The corner turret, the front porch, the steep gables, the decorative railings. All aspects of this home show the style popular for rebuilding the homes after the 1906 earthquakes and fires. This one was an example of a free-standing home, where as the majority of other homes on the tour (including the Painted Ladies) are town homes.
Picture #5
This is a quick shot of one of the buildings at Haight and Ashbury, better known as Hippie Town. This area was full of buildings that were painted similarly reflecting the anti-establishment movement that was made popular during the Hippie Revolution. I appreciated the tour guides insights to the changes that were made to the design of this area due to the social hippie movement.
Picture #6
There were a variety of churches in the area. This one stood out to me due to it's simple design. There are not many windows, decorative trim pieces, or other details. This simple design stood out amongst the rows and rows of elaborate houses.
Picture #7
This last photo I selected because this Victorian home stood out to me as a classic example of Victorian Architecture. The corner turret, the front porch, the steep gables, the decorative railings. All aspects of this home show the style popular for rebuilding the homes after the 1906 earthquakes and fires. This one was an example of a free-standing home, where as the majority of other homes on the tour (including the Painted Ladies) are town homes.
Sketches:
Sketch #1:
I loved this little vignette of an arched alcove. What was hard to show is how small those back windows appeared. The were probably only 2' high and 1' wide, with micro sized columns between.
Sketch #2
The had these quaint little bus shelters throughout the entire city. I loved the rolling roof shape and the simple design of the shelters.
Sketch #3
This sketch was of the entrance to the japanese tea gardens in the Golden Gate Park.
Sketch #4
This sketch was an enlarged vignette of one of the residential buildings bay windows. I loved the Ionic columns, decorative molding and dentil trim.
Handouts and Flyers:
Click here for the map of sites visited and ticket stubs
Sketch #1:
I loved this little vignette of an arched alcove. What was hard to show is how small those back windows appeared. The were probably only 2' high and 1' wide, with micro sized columns between.
Sketch #2
The had these quaint little bus shelters throughout the entire city. I loved the rolling roof shape and the simple design of the shelters.
Sketch #3
This sketch was of the entrance to the japanese tea gardens in the Golden Gate Park.
Sketch #4
This sketch was an enlarged vignette of one of the residential buildings bay windows. I loved the Ionic columns, decorative molding and dentil trim.
Handouts and Flyers:
Click here for the map of sites visited and ticket stubs
