Page 697 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

SAN FR ANCISC O  695

(1877), by Edgar Degas cross it, averaging a daily count
emphasizes the subject’s size of about 118,000. It is the world’s
by making him appear too third-largest single-span bridge,
large for the frame. Claude stretching 1.7 miles (2.7 km).
Monet’s beautiful Waterlilies When it was built, it was the
(1914–17) is one of a series world’s longest and tallest
depicting the lily pond in his suspension structure.
gardens in Giverny, near Paris. Designed by engineers Joseph
The original bronze casting of Strauss and Leon Moisseiff, the
Rodin’s Le Penseur (1904), mammoth structure was built
better known as The Thinker, to withstand 100 mph (160 km/h)
is located at the center of the winds. Its south pier was sunk
colonnaded Court of Honor. into the seabed, while each
It is one of the 11 castings of pier supports a steel tower,
the statue in collections around built upon a concrete fender.
the world. The original coat of paint lasted
for 27 years, but since 1965 it has
needed continuous painting.
i The Presidio Detail of the 19th-century cannon located The two cables contain enough
Map C3. Visitor Center: 105 on the Presidio grounds steel wire to circle the earth
Montgomery St. Tel (415) 561-4323. at the equator three times.
Open 10am–4pm Thu–Sun. during the Civil War and also The best views are seen from
Closed public hols. 7 ∑ nps.gov survived the 1906 earthquake. Marin County.
The fort was built in 1861 to At the foot of the bridge, the
To the north of Golden protect the bay from Bay Area Discovery Museum
Gate Park, overlooking attack, and to defend is the only children’s museum
San Francisco Bay, the ships carrying gold from in the US to be located in a
Presidio was established the California mines. national park. It offers hands-on
as an outpost of Spain’s It is a good place from art, science, and environmental
New World empire in which to view Golden exhibitions, performances,
1776. For many years it Detail, Arguello Gate Bridge and there special events, and cultural
was a military base, but in Gate is also a museum festivals for children aged from
1994 it became a national display ing military 6 months to 8 years.
park, with acres of woodland uniforms and arms.
full of wildlife. There are also E Bay Area Discovery Museum
many hiking trails, bike paths, 557 McReynolds Rd, Sausalito.
and beaches. The coastal path o Golden Gate Tel (415) 339-3900. Open 9am–
is very popular. Bridge 4pm Tue–Fri, 9am–5pm Sat & Sun.
The Presidio Museum is part 7 - = ∑ baykidsmuseum.org
of the Mott Visitor Center in Map B2. Hwy 101, Presidio.
the Main Post area. It houses Tel (415) 923-2000. @ 2, 4, 8,
artifacts relating to the Presidio’s 10, 18, 20, 28, 29, 50, 72, 76, 80.
long history. Close by, the Pedestrians & cyclists allowed
Officers’ Club was built over during daylight hours, east
walkway only. 7 observation
the adobe remains of the area only. =
original 18th-century Spanish ∑ goldengatebridge.org
fort, still preserved inside the
building. A 19th-century Named after the part of
cannon from the Spanish– San Francisco Bay called
American War lies across the “Golden Gate” by John
adjoining parade ground. Frémont in 1844, the
To the north, close to the Golden Gate Bridge
bay, is the large, grassy Crissy opened in 1937,
Field, which was reclaimed connecting the city with
from marshland for the 1915 Marin County. It took just
Panama-Pacific Exposition. over four years to build, at
The Military Cemetery, east a cost of $35 million. This
of the visitor center, holds the world-famous landmark
remains of 15,000 US soldiers offers breathtaking views;
killed during various wars. the bridge has six lanes for
The northwestern tip of vehicles, a free pedestrian
the Presidio, Fort Point is an walkway, and it also has a
impressive brick fortress that cycle lane. Each year, more The Golden Gate Bridge, with a single span of
once guarded the Golden Gate than 40 million vehicles 4,200 ft (1,280 m)

694-695_EW_USA.indd 695 11/2/16 2:49 PM