Coit Tower
Coit Tower is a 210-foot-tall Art Deco landmark with 360-degree views of San Francisco.
Coit Tower rises 210 feet above Telegraph Hill within Pioneer Park on Telegraph Hill Boulevard, its Art Deco form visible across San Francisco. Erected in 1933 from Lillie Hitchcock Coit's bequest after her 1929 death, it displays 1934 Depression-era fresco murals inside and an open-air observation deck with 360-degree views.
Coit Tower's History and Murals
Coit Tower rises 210 feet as a concrete column atop Telegraph Hill, completed in 1933 after five years of construction designed by Arthur Brown, Jr. and Henry Howard. The structure was funded by the estate of Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who died in 1929, and donated to the city to commemorate local firemen. Inside, murals painted in 1934 by Public Works of Art Project artists depict California life during the Depression, offering an interior subject for photographers alongside the exterior view from the hilltop.
Best Photo Spots
This guide covers 2 photo spots around Coit Tower: a leafy stairway and a hilltop park.
Filbert Street Steps
Photographs of This Location
Coit Tower History and Landmark Status
Completed and dedicated on October 8, 1933, Coit Tower is an unpainted reinforced-concrete Art Deco structure designed by Arthur Brown Jr. and Henry Temple Howard; Brown also designed San Francisco City Hall. A phoenix relief by Robert Boardman Howard marks the main entrance, while the ground floor holds murals produced in 1934 under the Public Works of Art Project by 25 artists working in a style that borrowed from Diego Rivera. The building was designated a San Francisco Landmark in 1984 and added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 2008.
Common Questions
The elevator to the observation deck costs $10 for adults and $6 for children aged 5 to 11.
Coit Tower is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November through April and until 6 p.m. from May through October.
No dogs are allowed at the Coit Tower.
Coit Tower Construction and Controversial Murals
The 210-foot Art Deco Coit Tower rises above Pioneer Park on Telegraph Hill, built in 1932–1933 from Lillie Hitchcock Coit's bequest to beautify San Francisco. Inside, a 1933–1934 New Deal mural cycle by twenty-two artists lines the walls, with the first floor depicting Depression-era industry and commerce, though a 1934 longshoremen's strike led authorities to paint over controversial panels and padlock the building for months. It reopened in the fall of 1934, and despite Coit's well-known devotion to the San Francisco Fire Department, the structure was never intended as a firefighter memorial.
Practical Information
39 bus, every 20 minutes; 1 Telegraph Hill Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94133; Coit Tower is located on Telegraph Hill, accessible from Fisherman's Wharf by heading up the hill.
The parking lot at the top of the hill is only accessible via Telegraph Hill Boulevard off Lombard Street, and waits can be long at peak times.; small lot, fills quickly; Difficult
Coit Tower is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.; 10 am-5:30 pm (3/1-9/30); 10 to 5 every day
$7; $7 non-resident / $5 resident; $10 adults / $6 children 5-11
You should check the website before visiting to confirm Coit Tower is currently open, as it has had closures for refurbishment.; docent tour required; Access to the top of the tower requires paying an elevator entrance fee.
Session Tips
- Photographers can climb the Filbert Steps for a steep but direct route to the top of Telegraph Hill.
- Shooting directly up from the base of Coit Tower gives a unique perspective on the tower.
- Use a wide-angle lens to capture both the tower and its surroundings.
- Bring a tripod if you plan to shoot from the observation deck in low light.
- Visit on a clear day to see the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the East Bay hills from the deck.
What to Wear
- Wear good walking shoes because Telegraph Hill is steep, even if you're dropped off close by.
- In winter, visitors should wear a windbreaker for the exposed observation deck.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:40 PM - 2:07 PM
2:07 PM - 3:07 PM
12:49 AM - 1:49 AM
1:49 AM - 2:15 AM
Best Season
Fall and Spring
Avoid
Morning fog can obscure skyline views at Coit Tower.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:23 | 17:14 | 9h 51m |
| Feb | 06:59 | 17:48 | 10h 49m |
| Mar | 07:20 | 19:17 | 11h 56m |
| Apr | 06:34 | 19:45 | 13h 11m |
| May | 05:59 | 20:12 | 14h 13m |
| Jun | 05:47 | 20:33 | 14h 46m |
| Jul | 05:59 | 20:31 | 14h 31m |
| Aug | 06:25 | 20:02 | 13h 36m |
| Sep | 06:51 | 19:17 | 12h 25m |
| Oct | 07:18 | 18:31 | 11h 13m |
| Nov | 06:50 | 16:58 | 10h 7m |
| Dec | 07:17 | 16:51 | 9h 33m |
What to Expect During Your Session
A wide-angle lens frames Coit Tower with its surroundings, and the structure photographs best at sunrise or sunset when fog is low over the bay. The $10 observation deck ticket is best purchased early morning or late afternoon for thinner crowds, with 360° vistas on clear days reaching the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, and the East Bay hills. For the interior 1930s murals, pressing a camera or phone directly against the glass doors avoids reflective glare.
A free tour of the art in the rotunda is available to visitors on arrival.
A recommended visit to Coit Tower lasts 1–2 hours.
Second floor mural tours are limited to 4-8 people at a time due to the extremely narrow stairway that is only as wide as the tower itself.
“After a morning at Coit Tower it is easy to walk through the adjacent North Beach neighborhood for Italian food.”
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Wheelchair access
- A historic elevator is the common route to the Coit Tower observation deck and is especially useful for those with mobility limitations.
- Parking
- There is a small parking lot near Coit Tower that fills quickly.
- Public transit
- 39 bus
- Walking distance
- steep walk from Embarcadero