San Francisco (city). General information about the city of San Francisco What country is San Francisco located in?

San Francisco began as a city of adventurers obsessed with the glitz of the Gold Rush and the possibility of instant riches. From the small settlement of Yerba Buena it has grown to a large modern city that today attracts thousands of tourists.

Unfortunately, everything that was built before 1906 has practically not survived. As a result of a massive earthquake, old San Francisco ceased to exist. But gradually a new one began to appear - with magnificent squares, business districts and huge parks.

There are many amazing places in the city - this is Pier 39 with a colony of Californian lions that have settled right within the city limits, and a mysterious prison island, and a group of miraculously surviving Victorian mansions. In a word, everyone can find an attraction to their taste.

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What to see and where to go in San Francisco?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.

1. Golden Gate Bridge

The main transport artery of Northern California and a recognizable symbol of San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge opened to traffic in 1937. The design was loved not only by motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Many film directors have featured the Golden Gate in their films. Grandiose flying flights of red color can be seen in the films “Interview with the Vampire”, “Terminator 4”, “Superman” and others. The bridge was built according to the design of D. Strauss, I. Morrow and C. Ellis. The length of the structure is 2737 meters, width is 27 meters.

2. Alcatraz

Former prison on an island in San Francisco Bay. This place became famous for the fact that famous and especially dangerous criminals were kept here under the strictest security. Until its closure in 1963, not a single person managed to escape from Alcatraz and survive. In 1969, the island was occupied by Indian leaders who protested against the government and believed that the Americans had forcibly occupied their rightful lands. Currently, Alcatraz has been converted into a museum.

3. Presidio of San Francisco

Park on the San Francisco Bay, next to the Golden Gate Bridge. At the end of the 18th century, Spanish fortifications were located on this site. Then, for more than 200 years, this territory was occupied by a military base. And in 1994 a national park was established here. There are paths for walking and cyclists throughout the park. The most popular is the path along the coast.

4. Cable tram

Historical public transport, which began operating in 1873. The cable tram moves like a funicular along a cable car, that is, the engine is not in the car itself, but in the depot at the substation. Now this transport is used more as a tourist attraction, but the system is capable of transporting up to 7 million passengers per year. In the middle of the 20th century, there was a serious struggle to preserve the historical line; in the end, after several reconstructions, it was decided to leave the tram.

5. Union Square

One of the central squares of San Francisco, located in the district of the same name. It is surrounded by huge shopping centers, boutiques, hotels, souvenir shops, restaurants, salons and galleries. Life here is in full swing around the clock and does not stop for a minute. The square is the starting point for exploring the city; locals make dates and business meetings here.

6. Ghirardelli Square

The famous city square, which has become a symbol of renewal. At the end of the 19th century, there was a cloth factory on this site, then a chocolate factory. Renewal of the square began in 1962, when William Roth bought the entire block and organized the reconstruction of the square. Currently it is a restaurant and shopping complex. The former clock tower is home to the Fairmont Heritage Place Hotel.

7. Lombard Street

Picturesque street, or, more precisely, a 400-meter section of the highway, located on Russian Hill. Lombard Street is famous for being shaped like a winding ribbon that descends to the highway at a fairly steep angle. For cars this is a rather difficult section of the road, but for tourists it is an interesting sight, like an attraction. The road surface of the street is made of red brick, with green lawns planted along the edges.

8. Golden Gate Park

A city park with a fairly large territory (the area is about 400 hectares), which begins in the city center and ends on the ocean coast. Inside there are artificial lakes, hills, islands, waterfalls, dunes, plains, and several museums. The park has all the conditions for sports, walking, cycling and just relaxing. In terms of attendance, the Golden Gate is second only to New York's Central Park.

9. Painted Ladies

A group of Victorian houses that survived the 1906 earthquake. The attraction is located on the territory of the elite city quarter of Nob Hill. The houses received the name “Painted Ladies” due to their architecture and bright exterior colors, which B. Kardum worked on in 1963. The picturesque wooden facades of the buildings are decorated with balconies, towers, verandas and other architectural delights.

10. Fisherman's Wharf

A tourist port area, which is famous for its abundance of fish restaurants, shops, and museums. Ferries to Alcatraz depart from here, as well as a cable car line. During the Gold Rush, Fisherman's Wharf became a habitat for unlucky gold miners who turned to fishing for a living. The Maritime Historical Park is located in the area.

11. Pier 39

A marina with a wide variety of entertainment options, it is a popular vacation spot for visitors and residents of San Francisco. The main attraction of Pier 39 is the California sea lion rookery. Special wooden platforms have been built for the animals in the water, on which they rest and bask in the sun in whole flocks. In total, about 1,500 lions live in the pier area; they first appeared in the bay in 1989.

12. Chinatown

Bright and colorful Chinatown with traditional red lanterns and pagodas. Chinatown is not only a place of residence for emigrants from the Middle Kingdom, but also a popular tourist attraction. The area began to take shape in the mid-19th century and became home to numerous Chinese refugees from Guangdong. Over more than 150 years of history, the quarter has grown and acquired its own infrastructure.

13. Castro Quarter

A small urban area with a large population of sexual minorities. Rainbow flags of the LGBT community are hung everywhere in the streets of the neighborhood. Local attractions are dedicated to the history of the emergence and development of the gay movement, as well as its struggle for equality. There is the LGBT History Museum, the famous Twin Peaks gay club with glass walls, and the Pink Triangle park.

14. Grace Cathedral

Construction of the temple began in 1906 after the earthquake and lasted more than 50 years. Due to the seismic instability of the area, the architect had to abandon additional elements of façade decoration, as they could be destroyed during a natural disaster. The interior of the cathedral is made in the neo-Gothic style with numerous stained glass windows, frescoes and massive bronze gates.

15. Palace of Fine Arts

The structure is located on the shore of an artificial lake. It is not a palace in the literal sense; the structure is an open arched colonnade of white stone, surrounded by a picturesque park. In fact, the Palace of Fine Arts is a more durable replica of an exhibit from the 1915 exhibition, which was called the “Tower of Gems.” The residents of San Francisco loved the structure so much that they called it a palace and decided to preserve it for the city.

16. Palace of the Legion of Honor

The museum is located in Lincoln Park. Built in 1922-1924 by magnate Specels. He and his wife collected a unique collection of works of art and historical objects. The earliest exhibits of antiquity date back to the 4th century BC. Artistic works form the basis of the museum's collection. Including works by El Greco, Rubens, Monet.

17. Cable tram museum

The cable car is a hybrid of a cable car, funicular and tram. The museum of this unusual means of transportation is located in the building of the existing depot. In it you can see the types of cable cars from different times and see how the cable moves. The first carriages are also on display in the museum for inspection. The history of the creation and development of the cable tram is presented in the form of a photo gallery.

18. Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA)

The largest museum on the West Coast of the United States and the second most popular in the entire country. Works by contemporary artists who worked in the 20th-21st centuries are exhibited here. Among the exhibits are works by Pollock, Klee, Matisse, Saarinen, Warhol and other famous masters. The gallery opened in 1935; in 1995, an original modern building designed by M. Botta was built for it.

19. Science Museum Exploratorium

Interactive exhibition founded by experimental physicist F. Oppenheimer in 1969. Some visitors call it the “mad scientist museum.” Oppenheimer himself could not hold academic positions after being accused of anti-American activities. He took a job as a high school science teacher. At this time, he carried out many experiments to study the properties of the environment and materials, which became preparations for the future museum.

20. De Young Museum

The exhibition is located on the territory of the Golden Gate Park. Its founder was M. de Young, a journalist from a local news agency. The exhibition halls house a collection of objects and works of art belonging to the period of the 17th – 21st centuries. – paintings, clothes, furniture, etc. Basically, the exhibits were collected in North and South America, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

21. California Academy of Sciences

The Museum of Natural History, which is also a serious scientific organization. The Academy was founded in the middle of the 19th century. The team is engaged in educational work, organizing exhibitions and conducting scientific research in various fields, which include marine botany, ichthyology, ornithology, paleontology, anthropology and other disciplines.

22. Asian Art Museum

The exhibition is housed in a building that previously belonged to the Public Library. The museum displays exhibits brought from various parts of the Asian region. There is also a shop at the gallery where you can buy jewelry, Chinese porcelain, silk and various antiques. There are free guided tours around the museum grounds.

23. Walt Disney Family Museum

The museum opened to the public in 2009 thanks to the efforts of the daughter of a famous cartoonist. The building is located on the territory of Presidio Park. Here is a collection of personal belongings of W. Disney, his sketches and designs, models and other exhibits. One of the walls of the building where the exhibition is located is made of glass. Thanks to this, you can admire the picturesque views of the San Francisco Bay.

24. Maritime National Historical Park

An open-air museum in the bay. It includes several facilities: a library, the museum itself, a marina and a visitor center. The exhibition is dedicated to the history of shipbuilding and navigation, as well as some events in the naval history of the United States. On the pier you can look at historical ships of the 19th-20th centuries. The museum library stores ancient documents - drawings, archives and maps.

25. City Hall

The City Hall building of 1915, built in an elegant Bozar architectural style designed by A. Brown Jr. The building is crowned with a monumental dome, the interior is dominated by marble decoration, and statues of the mayors of San Francisco are installed in the corridors. Tours of City Hall are organized for tourists, or you can go inside on your own - on weekdays admission is free.

26. Ferry Building

The largest market in San Francisco, very popular among tourists. The retail space is located in the ferry terminal building, which is located in the central part of San Francisco. In addition to shops with a large selection of drinks and quality products, the market has a cafe, counters with prepared food and sections with products from local farms.

27. Transamerica

Pyramid skyscraper, the tallest building in San Francisco. Construction of the structure was completed in the 1970s. The tower reaches a height of 260 meters, it contains 48 floors, where offices and various retail premises are located. Every day 1.5 thousand people come here to work. Tourists cannot climb to the top of the tower, since only the first floor is open to the public.

28. Coit Tower

The structure is located on top of Telegraph Hill. The tower is an architectural monument of a difficult period in US history - the Great Depression (1930s). Inside, the walls of the building are painted with frescoes demonstrating current themes of those years: economic difficulties, unemployment, social protest. There are even drawings that depict sympathy for communist ideas.

29. Westfield San Francisco Center

A shopping center and entertainment complex located in the central part of San Francisco. The interior of the building is made in a somewhat pompous style for such a place; many structures are decorated with gilding and trimmed with marble. Inside the shopping center there are more than 170 high-end stores and several expensive restaurants. Westfield opened in 1988.

30. AT&T Park

A baseball stadium located in one of the suburbs of San Francisco. It is an important sporting venue and a popular tourist attraction. The arena is home to the San Francisco Giants (a member of the US Major League Baseball). AT&T Park is not only capable of hosting matches, it is also ideal for hosting concerts, festivals and other large-scale public events.

31. Japanese tea garden

A garden in a traditional Japanese style, located within the city's Golden Gate Park. In 1894, it was a temporary exhibit at the World's Fair, but later became a permanent garden. The gardener-emigrant from Japan M. Hagiwara took care of the park for a long time. Thanks to his works, visitors can admire picturesque alleys, pagodas, streams, cherry blossoms, arched bridges and stone statues.

32. Twin Peaks

A hill with an observation deck offering a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. There is a natural park on the slopes. It is best to arrive at the site before sunset. At this time, the sun's rays flood San Francisco with golden light and bright reflections play in the waters of the bay. According to many tourists, not a single skyscraper observation deck can compare with Twin Peaks.

33. Lands End Trail

A walking trail at the “end of the earth,” as they call the northwest tip of San Francisco. The trail winds through thickets of cypress and eucalyptus along winding ocean cliffs. From here you can enjoy a picturesque view of the main attractions of the area - the Pacific Ocean, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. The trail is located far from civilized places, so it is not recommended to leave it. Wildlife can be dangerous.

34. Ocean Beach

A beach on the Pacific Ocean located in the westernmost part of Golden Gate Park. The Great Highway runs along the beach. The water in this place is quite cool, and in summer there can be fogs at temperatures as low as 9°C. It is better to visit the beach in late autumn or early spring. Ocean Beach is the most attractive for surfing, but there are often dangerous currents.

35. Baker Beach

A small beach with a length of 800 meters, located in the northwestern part of San Francisco. It's great for hiking, barbecuing or sunbathing, but the water is too cold for swimming. From the beach you can clearly see the Golden Gate Bridge framed by picturesque coastal hills. Baker Beach is quite popular among nudists; the northern side of the beach is specially reserved for them.

It is also rightly called the “pearl of the West Coast.” Elegant and luxurious, modern and ancient, provincial and cosmopolitan, every traveler will discover a special side of this amazing city. San Francisco is stunning with its gabled gables, numerous turrets and magnificent Victorian buildings that blend perfectly with the sunny coastline, summer fogs and steep hills. Despite the fact that San Francisco is a true American metropolis, with its compactness and some special charm it resembles a seaside European city, where you want to forget about all the problems and enjoy the light and relaxed atmosphere.

Climate and weather

San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. The city is surrounded by water on three sides, so the weather is significantly influenced by cold ocean currents. In summer the average air temperature is +15...+24 °С, and in winter - +10...+15 °C. The rainy season lasts from November to March, snow falls extremely rarely. At the end of summer and from September to October, the city, especially its western regions, is enveloped in fogs that may not subside throughout the day.

The best time to travel to San Francisco is the dry period from mid-May to October.

Nature

The city is located on the west coast of California, on a small peninsula, which is located near the Golden Gate Strait, connecting the picturesque San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. In addition, the city's jurisdiction includes the island Alcatraz And Treasure Island, as well as the uninhabited Farallon Islands and part of the island Red Rock. A feature of the urban landscape is a large number of hills, for example, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Pacific Heights, Telegraph Hill, Potreto Hill and etc.

It's worth noting that San Francisco is located next to two tectonic faults, so small earthquakes occur here from time to time.

Attractions

San Francisco has quite a large number of various attractions, many of which are of global importance. The main symbol of the city is a huge suspension bridge Golden Gate, which is equipped with a spectacular illumination system. Less known, but no less remarkable is the bridge Oakland Bay Bridge.

Lombard Street has become an interesting tourist spot in the city, which will appeal to lovers of walking. It is located on Russian Hill, and its main feature is considered to be a very large slope (27 °). The memorial tower is no less popular Coit Tower, which is dedicated to a local resident who volunteered to help firefighters. The most colorful area of ​​the city is Chinatown, where you can see original oriental-style houses, as well as visit Chinese restaurants and shops.

Also worth noting is the entrance to Chinatown, which features a stunning colorful gate. In addition, it is recommended to visit the old restaurant Clif House, fishing pier with sea lion colony, Museum Walt Disney in and Museum of Russian Culture.

There are also interesting natural attractions in San Francisco, for example, two twin hills Twin Peaks, from the tops of which a stunning view of the city opens. Well, there are more than 200 parks of all kinds.

Finally, it is worth special mentioning the famous island Alcatraz, which is located near San Francisco. It is known that it once served as a prison, which was considered the most secure in the United States. Now the island is a historical monument.

Nutrition

San Francisco is a true gourmet city, with the number and variety of restaurants rivaling even New York. This is not surprising, because the conditions for running a restaurant business here are simply ideal: skilled chefs from all over the world, first-class wineries and numerous farms that supply the city with the freshest products. It’s worth saying right away that the continuous flow of emigrants has almost completely absorbed the local national cuisine, along with its wings and potatoes. Therefore, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and other ethnic establishments are most often found here. Half of the city's restaurants are concentrated in the districts Chinatown And Castro. The latter, by the way, is notable not only for its popularity among sexual minorities, but also for its cozy cafes with summer areas, where they serve delicious shrimp and crab dishes, as well as bohemian coffee shops and chocolate shops. In addition, many fine restaurants are located at the shipyard Fisherman's Wharf. This is where they serve excellent seafood dishes, as well as juicy California steaks and famous sourdough bread.

Of course, San Francisco is full of fast food establishments offering hamburgers and hot dogs, but they are not as popular as in other US cities. There are also many small pastry shops where you can enjoy some chocolate dessert and a cup of coffee at any time.

San Francisco is also the real capital of wine. Moreover, Californian wines have an exquisite taste and are considered one of the best in the world.

Accommodation

San Francisco offers its guests a huge number of hotels of various categories. For those who want to save on accommodation, the best places for temporary accommodation will be hostels and hotels B&B, which are scattered literally throughout the city, for example, The Pontiac Hotel & Hostel(from 20 $) or Mission Inn(from $39.2).

The city also has many mid-price hotels (from $60) and expensive upscale hotels (from $300).

Entertainment and relaxation

San Francisco can offer its guests a lot of entertainment for every taste, so you definitely won’t get bored here. For example, a visit to the zoo is suitable for a family holiday. San Francisco Zoo or an aquarium Aquarium of the Bay. Lovers of outdoor recreation will also enjoy the city, as there is an incredible number of beautiful parks and gardens on its territory. Of these, the park is the most popular "Golden Gate", which is a real oasis in the city center. Another beautiful place in San Francisco is Baker Beach. Well, golf lovers are recommended to go to the park Lincoln, on the territory of which there is an excellent golf center.

Fans of cultural pastimes will also like San Francisco: opera, ballet and symphony concerts - San Francisco can offer you all this in a huge variety. Most performances take place in the opera house "In Memory of War" and the American Conservatory Theater (A.K.T.).

The nightlife of the city is no less intense, as there are more than a hundred bars, nightclubs, showrooms and blues cafes open here. In addition, San Francisco is a real city of holidays and festivals. Of these, the most popular are the Folsom Street Fair, the Chinese New Year Parade, Lovefest, Christian Carnival and Fleet Week. Moreover, almost all city neighborhoods have their own individual holidays.

Exciting excursions to the brewery can also be an interesting way to spend your time. Anchor Brewing Company and large wineries, as well as to the islands Alcatraz And Angel.

Purchases

San Francisco's shopping is considered to be some of the best in the world, so it's no surprise that tourists come here to shop. The most popular shopping places in the city are Union Square, Upper Fillmore, Sacramento Street, Hayes Valley And Mission. This is where the best shopping is located, from fashion boutiques and jewelry stores to ethnic shops and designer galleries. Well, among shopping centers, first of all it is worth highlighting Westfield San Francisco Center.

On its territory there are representative offices of such famous brands as Abercrombie & Fitch, Nordstorm's etc., as well as boutiques of the most popular companies ( Macy's, Bulgari, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, MaxMara, Diesel, Prada, Celine, Gucci, Escada, Guess, Agnes B., Wilkes Bashford etc.). In addition, it is recommended to visit the huge market Ferry Building and the colorful Chinatown district. In general, it is worth keeping in mind that literally every district of the city has a large selection of shops, shopping centers and supermarkets, many of them offering attractive discounts and promotions.

Transport

City public transport in San Francisco is represented by an extensive network of bus and trolleybus routes, surface and underground light rail Muni Metro, as well as trams. The cost of one trip is $1.5, all travel tickets can be purchased from drivers and at underground stations Muni. It is worth keeping in mind that they are valid for 1.5 hours on all types of transport, with the exception of cable trams and suburban metro BART. High-speed trams Muni Metro run from 5:00 to 00:00, but two lines (L and N) operate 24 hours a day.

In addition, there are a great variety of taxis in the city that operate at a single rate: $3.5 per ride and $2.25 per mile.

Connection

To call anywhere in the world, you can use one of the telephone booths that are installed on almost all streets of the city, as well as in many public places. Calls are paid in small coins (cents) or calling cards. In addition, you can make any call from a hotel or large restaurant.

Mobile communications have excellent quality and uniform coverage, but the frequencies at which they operate are not similar to European ones.

Internet access is provided in almost all hotels. There are also many access points in the city WiFi.

Safety

In San Francisco, as in almost any major city, pickpockets and all sorts of scammers operate. However, if you follow general safety measures and remain vigilant in public places, then the likelihood of any troubles is eliminated. The greatest caution should be exercised in the areas of Bayview-Hunters Point, Visitation Valley, Sunnydale, Fillmore District and Mission ( Mission).

It is also worth noting that there are many beggars and beggars in San Francisco, which it is recommended to simply ignore.

Business climate

San Francisco is the main financial center of the US West Coast, home to important institutions such as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Bank of America, as well as many offices of multinational banks, international financial institutions and large insurance companies. San Francisco encourages the preservation of small business, ensuring that 85% of the city's businesses are small companies with 10 or fewer employees. In addition, the city is home to the world-famous Silicon Valley, where the highest-class specialists are attracted for large-scale production of integrated circuits.

Real estate

According to many world experts, the San Francisco real estate market is one of the most stable and promising in the country. Moreover, both commercial and residential real estate are widely represented here. It is worth noting that the standard of living in San Francisco is very high, so the prices for local real estate are quite impressive.

However, investing in the local real estate market is one of the most promising business ventures in the United States today.

Budget travelers should keep in mind that San Francisco museums offer free admission several times a month. You can check the schedules of such events at any city tourism office. Also, those who expect to spend time on excursions and seeing all the sights are recommended to purchase a city welcome card ( Go Card or CityPASS), which entitles you to discounted tickets to local museums and galleries.

Named after the Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi. It is a tourist destination known around the world for its steep slopes, cold summer fogs and combination of modern and Victorian architecture. San Francisco's top attractions include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and Pier 39.

Now Okay THERE goes into more detail about the most popular attractions and things to do in San Francisco, with a map of each location.

1. Golden Bridge Gate

The main landmark of San Francisco can confidently be called the Golden Bridge Gate. It looks incredibly beautiful, in fact it is the calling card of the city. The bridge looks different at different times of the year, so the Golden Gate is worth a visit regardless of the season - it is always an amazing sight.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA

2. Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island was once a prison for high-risk, escape-prone prisoners. Now it has been disbanded. The island has been converted into a historical museum, which is visited by boats with tourists departing from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. And Pier 39 is a shopping and entertainment center built on a pier in San Francisco.

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, USA

3. Asian Art Museum

The climate in San Francisco is somewhat specific. Constant fog and light rain are a very typical phenomenon for the city. One of the days would be worth dedicating to visiting one of the main attractions - the Asian Art Museum. Undoubtedly, City Hall is worthy of attention. A very beautiful building, although there is nothing to do there for more than 20 minutes.

Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, USA

4. Stroll Downtown

After City Hall, go downtown. You can even just walk around the city center to feel its atmosphere, because each city has its own, unique atmosphere.

Downtown, San Francisco, USA

5. Be sure to take a ride in the Cable Car

After sunset, be sure to take a ride in the Cable Car to see interesting places without leaving the cabin. These trams have retained their original appearance and can be used as public transport, although they mainly carry tourists. San Francisco is all on hills, so there are practically no horizontal streets.

6. Have breakfast with a view of the Bay Bridge

7. Pier 39

Pier 39 is impressive, or more precisely, not it itself, but sea ​​lion rookery, who have chosen all the approaches to it. California sea lions haven't always been here; they were first spotted on Pier 39 in September 1989. And the reasons for migration remain unclear. The pier was refurbished and everything possible was added to ensure that the animals could feel safe.

Already in 1990, there were so many sea lions that the owners of many yachts began to complain about them, in addition, there was a real threat of collisions between ships and animals. But the interests of tourists coming to see the lions outweighed, and the yacht mooring was moved to another territory.

Number of animals The people who live on the pier are constantly changing. In search of food, lions periodically leave their shelter, but invariably return back, usually in the spring. Scientists estimate that in total about 1,500 animals live on the pier’s rookeries.

There are also many restaurants on Pier 39 where you can have a delicious seafood lunch. Particularly popular Forbes Island restaurant, where you can taste sweets, fruits and ice cream of all kinds.

Pier 39, San Francisco, USA

8. Bike tour of the city

Bicycle excursions are very popular. You can rent a bicycle and explore the city on your own. This is exactly what most tourists do.

9. Visit the Conservatory of flowers

Don't miss the Conservatory of flowers - this is exactly the place that everyone should visit in San Francisco. A ticket costs about 5 dollars, for this money you will see a countless number of flowering plants from different parts of the globe in one place. America. Therefore, jeans are a traditional souvenir from San Francisco. In general, the tourism business here is very developed, so you will not have a shortage of souvenirs to choose from. To the extent that during a visit to the prison on Alcatraz Island you can purchase a set of prison clothes for $150.

Levi strauss & Co, San Francisco, USA

San Francisco residents are quite peaceful and loyal to tourists. According to statistics, the European and Mongoloid races predominate, although African Americans can also often be found. Unlike residents of Washington or New York, they will always help you find the place you are looking for, and also tell you where to go and what is worth seeing.

People also tend to spend most of their free time away from home, on the open terraces of numerous snack bars and restaurants. If a screen is placed outside and a match is being broadcast, then strangers who, for example, are waiting for their bus, can easily start a conversation and discuss the game, like old friends.

Another thing that amazes us about San Francisco is the freedom of morals. An ordinary bus ride turns into an attraction with crazy characters. There are no boundaries in clothing, as a means of self-affirmation: a college student in light green tights and a skirt or an old man in a leather vest over his naked body is a common thing in the city. San Francisco is still considered the world capital of the LGBT movement and the city of hippies.

There are, of course, not the most pleasant moments - homeless people sleeping on cardboard bedding near subway descents or in parks on benches and at bus stops. The warm climate attracts vagabonds like a magnet, and local authorities do not know how to deal with it.

But overall, as one song says: “This is San Francisco, a disco city!” An ideal city for relaxation, timeless and beyond prejudice.

Golden fever

San Francisco 1855

Like many mountain towns, the social climate in early San Francisco was unstable. This situation caused a great outcry in the US Senate, and a series of laws, the Compromise of 1850, fueled infighting over the issue of "brutal labor." In , and later in the year, the "Vigilance Committee" was created, which fought against crime, government corruption and violence against immigrants, but this committee may have created more lawlessness than it prevented. This popular movement lynched 12 people, kidnapped hundreds of Irish government officials, and forced the resignation of the city's elected officials. The Vigilance Committee was stopped twice by force, after which they decided that the city had been “cleaned out.” This committee later focused on Chinese immigrants, creating many riots in the Chinatown area. These riots led to the creation of legislation to weaken Chinese immigration to the United States by reducing the number of immigrants allowed in the city. The "Chinese Immigration Act" was passed in the year, and repealed only in the year.

Market Street

The city of San Francisco has been the seat of San Francisco County for up to a year. But because the city's population was greatly disproportionate to the population of the entire county, the California state government decided to break up the county. The border ran through the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, just north of the San Bruno Mountains. Everything south of the line became the new San Mateo County, centered on Redwood City, and everything north became the new incorporated city-county of San Francisco.

Period after World War 2

Geography and climate

San Francisco. Satellite image

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco is located on the west coast of the United States, at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula. The city's borders stretch greatly along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. The city includes several islands: Alcatraz, Treasure Island and Yerba Buena. The city also includes the uninhabited Faralon Islands, located 43 kilometers away in the Pacific Ocean. It is often said that San Francisco is a square with a side of 7 miles (~11 kilometers).

San Francisco is famous for its hills. A hill in a city is an elevation greater than 30 meters. There are 42 hills within the city limits, some areas of the city are named after the hills on which they are located (Nob Hill, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, Potreto Hill and Telegraph Hill).

Not far from the geographical center of the city, a little to the south, there are a number of hills with the lowest population density; here, the entertainment and information infrastructure of the city mainly prevails. On Sutro Hill there are towers for television and radio transmitters. Nearby are the Twin Peaks, some of the tallest hills in the city and one of the most popular tourist destinations. The highest hill in San Francisco is Mount Davidson, 282 meters high; a high cross was built here in 1934 (its height is 31.4 m).

San Francisco is located near two tectonic faults that cause frequent earthquakes. Small earthquakes occur periodically in the San Francisco Bay Area. The threat of strong earthquakes places high standards on the strength of new buildings in the city and forces the rebuilding of earlier buildings and bridges.

San Francisco's coastline limits the city's growth, so some areas, such as Marin, Hunter Point, and much of the Embarcadero area, have been developed using artificial coastal infill. The artificial island of Treasure Island was built from material recovered from the construction of the Bay Bridge. Such areas are very unstable in the event of earthquakes, as the 1989 earthquake illustrated when it caused severe damage in Marin County.

Climate

A saying erroneously attributed to Mark Twain reads - "The coldest winter I've ever experienced is a San Francisco summer." San Francisco, influenced by California's Mediterranean climate, is characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. San Francisco is surrounded on 3 sides by water, so its climate is greatly influenced by the cold currents of the Pacific Ocean, which produce a mild climate with little seasonal temperature fluctuations. The city's average summer temperature is 21 °C, 9 °C cooler than Livermore, the nearest inland city. The record for the highest temperature in San Francisco is 39 °C, which was recorded on July 14 of this year. For comparison: the warmest month is September - 17.2 °C, which is colder than June in Moscow, although the latitude of the city south of Baku is at the same level as Ashgabat. However, average daily temperatures above 16 °C last from the beginning of May until the end of October. Daytime temperature in winter is about 15 °C. Thermometer readings in the city almost never fall below 0; the lowest temperature was recorded on December 11 of the year, when it dropped to −3 °C. The season from May to September is completely dry, the rainy season starts from November and lasts until March. Snow is a very rare occurrence in San Francisco, with only 10 snowfalls recorded this year. The city's heaviest snowfall was on February 5 of the year, when snow levels reached 3.7 inches in the city center. The last snowfall was on February 5th of this year.

Fog moving into Crissy Field Park

The combination of cold ocean water and high air temperatures on the California mainland leads to the creation of a unique phenomenon - the San Franciscan fog, which in the summer can envelop the city (especially its western part; in the eastern regions the fog is less dense) for days on end. Fogs are active in the city at the end of summer and from September to October. The fogs, hot climate of California and the influence of the ocean make San Francisco the owner of its own microclimate. The high hills in the geographical center of the city are responsible for a 20% difference in annual rainfall between different areas. They also protect eastern counties from the fog and cold conditions that prevail in Sunset County. For those living on the east side of the city, San Francisco is sunnier and drier.

The government of San Francisco consists of 2 equal branches. The first branch is the executive branch, headed by the mayor and other elected officials. The second branch is the legislative branch, it consists of 11 members making up the city council, headed by the president (in 2006, Aaron Peskin). The president is responsible for passing laws and passing the budget, although city residents have the opportunity to directly influence the legislative branch by voting. Members of the city council are elected as representatives of different districts of the city. If the mayor dies or resigns, his powers will pass to the president of the council, such an incident occurred in the year when George Mosconi was killed and his powers passed to Diane Feinstein. The city's budget for the year was more than $5 billion.

The federal government uses San Francisco to house various departments such as the U.S. Court of Appeals, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the Mint. Before disarmament, there were 3 military bases in the city: Presidio, Treasure Island and Hunters Point. The only thing they inherited from them was the Fleet Festival. The California Supreme Court is located in San Francisco, as well as a number of other state institutions. San Francisco is home to 30 diplomatic missions from around the world, including the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

Demography

In San Francisco in 2005, the average household earned an average of $57,496, 5th highest among large US cities. Following the national trend of moving out of more expensive cities in pursuit of increased income, many middle-class residents have left San Francisco, affecting the percentage of children born. The city has 14.5% fewer children compared to other large cities in the country. In San Francisco, 7.8% are low-income households, a number lower than the US average.

Homelessness has been a "chronic problem" in San Francisco since the 1980s. The city has a higher number of homeless people per capita than any other city in the United States. The large number of homeless people has contributed to an increase in criminal activity. For example, in 2003, San Francisco had 5,725 violent crimes and 38,163 property crimes, more than the national average. Among the 50 largest cities by population, San Francisco ranks 32nd for violent crime and 38th for property crime.

Religion in San Francisco County

• Catholics - 180,798 and 49 religious communities
• Jews - 49,500 and 36 religious communities
• Muslims - 22,664 and 6 religious communities
• Scientologists - several tens of thousands of people
• United Methodist Church (Methodist Protestants) - 13,522 and 16 religious communities
• Episcopal Church (Protestants) - 6,295 and 19 religious communities
• All religious - 324,882 and 408 religious communities
• Total population 386,816

Russian San Francisco

There is a significant (about 20 thousand people) Russian-speaking community in San Francisco and its suburbs, many living in the Richmond area. This area is famous for its abundance of Russian restaurants and shops. The city is home to a Russian cultural center, founded in the year. The Consulate General of the Russian Federation dates back to the times of pre-revolutionary Russia, and has been operating in the prestigious Pacific Heights area for a year.

Education

San Francisco State University is part of the California State University System. It is located near Lake Merced. The university annually graduates 30,000 students and welcomes newcomers; teachers, many with advanced degrees, teach more than a hundred disciplines. City College of San Francisco, located in Inglisade County, is considered one of the largest colleges in the country. It educates approximately 100,000 students and offers a long training program. The Jesuit University of San Francisco was founded in 1855 and today is located in the Lone Mountain region. The university focuses on free-thinking arts and is one of the oldest universities established west of the Mississippi River.

The University of California, San Francisco is one of 10 campuses in the California University System, and the No. 2 employer in the city. The university is dedicated to biomedical research and graduates only medical students, ranking among the top 5 medical schools in the United States. The university has a KUSF medical center, which is one of the 10 best hospitals in the state. In 2003, the new 43-acre campus of KUSF opened, dedicated to research in human consciousness, biotechnology and the study of human behavior. The Civic Center neighborhood is home to Hastings College of Law, founded in 1878, the oldest law school in California and producing more judges than any other institution.

Many specialists in the fine arts studied at the San Francisco Institute of Arts or at the largest private Academy of Arts in the United States. San Francisco is home to the only conservatory on the West Coast, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which teaches orchestral instruments. The California Culinary Academy, as part of the Le Cordon Bleu program, offers applicants training in the art of cooking and baking, as well as restaurant management.

Primary and secondary schools

San Franciscans have a wide choice of public schools, but in most cases they prefer to send their children to Lowell High School, the oldest school west of the Mississippi River, and to the small School of the Arts. Compared to 10% nationally, in San Francisco just under 30% of schoolchildren are enrolled in one in a hundred private or parochial schools. Of these 100 schools, 40 fall under the control of the Roman Catholic Church of San Francisco.

Among the many private schools, two schools can be distinguished: St. Ignatius Preparatory College and Sacred Heart School. Both schools are the oldest and most bitter rivals. Every year, schools organize the Bruce Mahoney competition, in honor of the memory of 2 schoolchildren killed during the 2nd World War.

Infrastructure

Roads and highways

Because of its unique geography, which often prevented road construction, and the results of the "road revolution" of the late 1950s, San Francisco is one of the few U.S. cities to choose the European arterial style of road layout instead of a large freeway network. Residents of the city continue to follow this course, choosing, after the Loma Prieta earthquake, to completely destroy the Embarcadero and part of the central highway, turning them into boulevards.

Several major highways pass through the city, connecting the north of the west coast with the south or the west coast with the center of the mainland. I-80 to New York City begins as it approaches the Bay Bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, the only direct road link to the eastern shore of the bay. Interstate 101 connects San Francisco to San Jose (southbound) and Marin County (northbound via the Golden Gate Bridge). The CA-1 highway also passes through the Golden Gate Bridge. I-280, starting in the city, also connects it to San Jose. CA-35, which runs along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, enters the city along Skyline Boulevard in southern San Francisco. The busiest streets in the city are Geary Boulevard, Lincoln Way, Fall Street, Market Street and Portola Drive.

Public transport

Cable tram

In addition to intracity transport, San Francisco has a developed system of suburban communications. The city has a kind of subway, the work of which is provided by the BART agency. BART is a regional rapid transit system that connects San Francisco to the East Coast via the Transbay Tunnel and also has connections to San Mateo, San Francisco National Airport, and Millbrae. The Caltrain rail system connects San Francisco with San Jose.

The Transbay Terminal transport complex serves stations of a large number of bus service systems such as AC Transit, samTrans And Golden Gate Transit. The San Francisco - Emirville bus route is operated by the system Located 21 km south of the city, in San Mateo County, it is under the jurisdiction of the City-County of San Francisco. This is the center for

San Francisco is a city and main port on the Pacific coast of the United States, California, the center of a large urban conurbation, the historical capital of California. Located in western California, on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Strait. Population 843.3 thousand people (2013, population of Greater San Francisco - 7.2 million people).

Despite the fact that European expeditions visited here back in the 16th century (F. Drake, H.R. Cabrillo, S. Biscaino), they did not notice the convenient San Francisco Bay due to the fog. The ships of the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola were the first to visit here. In 1776, the military fort Presidio de San Francisco (“Garrison of St. Francis of Assisi”, operated until 1994, then a museum) and the mission “San Francisco de Asis” (another name “Dolores”) were founded. The first civilian settlement, Yerba Buena, was founded in 1835 by Englishman Captain W.E. Richardson. During the Mexican-American War, it was captured by the Americans and renamed San Francisco (1847).

In 1848, the first gold was discovered in Northern California, followed by the Gold Rush (1849), as well as the discovery of the Comstock Silver Mine in 1859, which contributed to the very rapid development of the city. In 1848-1870, the city's population increased 187 times (in 1848 the population was 800 people, and in 1870 - 150 thousand people). The population of San Francisco, as well as California as a whole, grew even more after the completion of the Pacific Railroad in 1869, connecting the West with the center of the country.

In April 1906, an earthquake occurred in the San Francisco area, after which a fire began that raged for several days. As a result, about 700 people died, the city center was destroyed, and a residential area of ​​Victorian private houses was damaged. During the Great Depression, the city was replenished with immigrants from other states. During World War II, the city became a center of military shipbuilding; shipyards were built, employing about 500 thousand workers. In the summer of 1945, the San Francisco Conference was held, at which the UN was created.

By the end of the 20th century, environmental problems in the city worsened, as well as problems of overpopulation, and real estate prices rose significantly (one of the most expensive cities in the country). In the 1960s, San Francisco was the center of rock and jazz, the city became one of the centers of the hippie, beatnik, and pacifist movements; “Psychedelic” or “Californian” rock was born here.

Golden Gate Bridge

Among the attractions: the Golden Gate Bridge over the strait connecting San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean (span length 1281 m), the height of 67 m above sea level allows any sea vessels to sail (symbol of California, built in 1937), business part cities with skyscrapers (Downtown), including the Bank of America, Pyramid, Embarcadero Center, consisting of four skyscrapers, and sculptural compositions (including the avant-garde Vaillancourt fountain).

The hill districts of Nob Hill (originally a gold mining district), Telegraph Hill (the first telegraph office in the West opened here in 1853), Russian Hill (Russian Coaster, Writers' Quarter, home to the world's most winding street, Lombard Street), and Twin Peaks (from here you have a wonderful view of Downtown and the bridges).

Lombard Street