Coit Tower, San Francisco

###Five Things to Know About Coit Tower Tall, slender, and made of white concrete, Coit Tower has stood as a symbol of San Francisco for nearly a century. This iconic column is perched atop Telegraph Hill, where droves of people still explore it daily. Here are a few things to keep in mind the next time you visit: * **It’s named for Lillie Hitchcock Coit.** Lillie was a wealthy, offbeat patroness of the city’s volunteer firefighters. She died in 1929, leaving her riches behind to help beautify the city she adored. * **Many people think it resembles a fire-hose nozzle.** * **The views from the top are spectacular.** Adults and children who haven’t figured out how to defy gravity yet pay a small fee to ride up the tower’s elevator, where panoramic views of the city and bay await them. * **Murals are scrawled across the walls.** Completed in 1934, these paintings depict life in California during the Depression. Some of the original depictions were so controversial that they had to be painted over. * **Parking is very limited.** Instead of driving, take a scenic hike to the tower along Telegraph Hill’s eastern slope off of Filbert Street. This route even passes the Grace Marchant Garden.