"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one." - Khalil Gibran…read more She sits on a hill on Lands End in San Francisco... ..a humbling reminder of the perils of war. The generation of WWII are considered by many the greatest American generation in modern times. Imagine the generation that brought Hitler and the fanatical Nazi party to their knees, defeated the once invincible Evil Empire of Japan, and built the best automobiles to ever have roamed the roads. And we haven't even touched the Banana Splits, Soda Floats, A-line Skirts, & Drive-In's of the day! The 1940's was well before my time, but I'm a historian by trade and old soul, and at times feel it was my era. Men opening doors for women, respect for our elders, the Delahaye Teardrop Coupe, and the King of Swing! Yet, with all my imaginary feel good memories of this bygone era... I do not find anything glamorous about those that died in WWII. The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial is a reminder of the sacrifice this generation made for us. The battle scars on her war-torn body resonates with suffering, yet with all the twisted metal, she still retains honor, service, duty, and American pride. The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) was commissioned in 1934 and became legendary during WWII, 1941-1945, earning 17 Battle Stars. She would become one of the most decorated navy ships, ever! Those that served on her earned the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism, gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps. The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) was a Heavy Cruiser that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 07, 1941. During the great Battle of Guadalcanal of 1942, nearly 100 sailors or marines died, over 100 were injured, and 5 were lost at sea. She was hit 45 times, yet managed to survive one of the greatest battles in American history! In the WWII years that followed The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) continued in many historic battles. She was repaired numerous times and continued to be on the front line in the Pacific up until the surrender of the Empire of Japan! Today, the spirit of this legendary ship can be seen at The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial located at Lands End in San Francisco. The memorial is set around the bridge wings extensively damaged from the great Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. It's a simple, yet powerful tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom! In the end, I recommend The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial. It might not be for everyone, as some may see it as a heap of old metal. I see it as America's soul, a time when our grandparents or great grandparents became the greatest American generation in modern times! Always in my heart!

A stop near lands end and the cliff house restaurant. It has the parts from the ship at a nice…read morememorial.

Lovely visit, located at the Yerba Beuna park. Definitely worth stopping by if you are in the SoMa…read morearea. Theres a large lawn in front of the memorial and a lot of nice places to sit.

When I used to work in San Francisco my office was near Yerba Buena Gardens which is where the…read moreMartin Luther King Jr. Memorial is located. It was built in 1993 and is the 2nd largest memorial to Dr. King in the US. It is 50 feet wide and 20 feet tall with a 120,000 gallon reflecting pool with the water cascading over a granite walkway that creates a tunnel which contains glass panels inscribed with 14 of Dr. King's inspirational quotes from Rev. King in addition to historic images from the civil rights movement. The memorial begins with a quote from Dr. Kings "I have a dream" speech, and concludes with a quote from a speech he made while visiting San Francisco in 1956. This is a wonderful memorial to Dr. King. The design is really beautiful and the waterfall creates a feeling of serenity as you walk through the tunnel viewing the quotes and the images. Yerba Buena Gardens is a very beautiful location with lots to offer but to me Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is, and will always be, one of my favorite places to visit in San Francisco.

This is a privately owned open space right in the heart of the Financial district. It's currently…read moreDecember, so they've put up these giant red ornaments everywhere. This is a great place to go to eat the lunch that you got from that hole in the wall restaurant that had no seating area! 101 California even has festive red cushions for you to sit on in the tiered seating areas (it's hard to explain this just look at the pictures) making it a pretty comfortable spot! Why take lunch back to your desk when you have places like this in SF?

Hey! Summer is here!…read more Thanks to Yelp, I was able to sit and enjoy the sun at some of San Francisco's finest privately-owned public open spaces (POPOS) such as the 343 Sansome Rooftop Deck and Citigroup Center Atrium. Time to give back! Here's my contribution to an Excellent privately-owned public open space, rated by the people who created the guide http://www.spur.org/­files/u7/POPOSGuide.pdf In 1982, three stepped pyramids were built around the garage exhaust vents to create this urban garden at the front of the spacious plaza at 101 California. The granite steps have seating pads and are spotted with large planters decorated with colorful flowers that change seasonally. It's a nice breakfast or lunchtime spot to spend alone without feeling like a loner-loser in the city and enjoy the open air warmed by the San Francisco sunshine. It's not too conducive to group hangouts since the planters alternate with the seating pads and these pads fit about one butt each. Pabu and Ramen Bar are the two restaurants right next to this urban garden but not sure if they do takeout. But, there's a Yoppi Frozen yogurt, dry cleaner, US Bank, The Plant Cafe Organic, and a florist here. What I did was grab a Philz coffee from their truck at Sansome/Pine, walked over here, enjoyed late morning coffee, get some vitamin D from the sun and went on my merry way. There were others as well, but definitely far less crowded in the morning than at lunch time. If you're looking for a to-do list in the city to check off this summer, I strongly suggest the POPOS guide, because it doesn't cost you a dime to enjoy these wonderful public open spaces.

When crossing the eastern span of the San Francisco Bridge, few people realize the history of the…read moremilitary in the area. One specifically, the Nimitz House, hidden just under the freeway on the east side of Yerba Buena island, has an incredible story and history! This house was the final residence of General Chester Nimitz, the leader and architect of WWII Pacific Theater. Simply said, the man whose leadership and strategy was used to win the war and allowed the Allies to proclaim victory. This house is a three story mansion and shows its unique architectural splendor as you approach it. It contains large windows which enabled views of the east bay and if you search the internet, you will see the elegant interior - a fitting home for its resident and his family. Gen Nimitz past away in this home at the age of 81 from a stroke. Unfortunately, California is not maintaining the residence and it has been falling in disrepair. Paint, windows, and the structure are all showing signs of neglect. Don't let its condition stop you from visiting though. Although you can't enter, you can appreciate its history and marvel of the fantastic area and views it provided.

Have you ever fallen into a rabbit hole of discovery on the Internet, only to find yourself, at…read more3am, looking at pictures of seemingly abandoned buildings on islands off the coasts of California or Mexico, which you found by zooming into said islands on Google maps and looking through the posted photos, then wondering who the hell this random guy named Christian is who posted the photos not even five months ago? What is Christian's story, you wonder, as you continue to look through the other attractions of the island, which does not include residential or commercial buildings, only to discover a few hiking trails that lead seemingly to nowhere...but what's this? A campsite with no electricity, running water, or bathrooms? Just a field on an island designated as a campsite, reached by some trail made by a dude with a machete, or something? But despite the lack of these amenities...there are picnic tables! Who decided first that it should be a campsite? Who brought the tables? What are the backstories? I've found some neat places online using this exact technique, and I've been fortunate enough to visit such places. It's cool to stand in the location of such a place after seeing all the pictures online and building it up in your head, and honestly, what makes these places better is when there aren't a ton of people crowding around when you get there, trying to take a picture for their Instagram. Sometimes, like in the case of this house, I do the reverse and come upon a neat building, art piece, or other landmark as I'm out doing other things, then furiously search the Internet for more info on the history. For me, the places that are a bit mysterious are the coolest finds. We came across this spot accidentally; we had gone to see the mission in downtown and stopped to check out Treasure Island on the way back. We drove around a bit looking for a good place to see the skyline, and came upon this very unique bit of Yerba Buena, which is somewhat hidden on the side and requires you take some twists and turns down a side road. Although there is an informational board in front of this house that suggests many people visit this place, the houses are surprisingly well-kept, with all windows intact and walls free of graffiti tags, and things are generally not trashed by garbage human beings. Looking into and around each of the houses, I got the sense that this is an area that is largely unvisited, especially compared to the neighboring areas of San Francisco, and now even Treasure Island. I wanted to do my own digging to see how well-known this weird circle of Victorian-style houses, juxtaposed beneath the modern industrial backdrop of the various overpass-bridges, are to people my age online. The results were interesting. One Reddit post with someone claiming you can rent these out for events. Quite a few articles discussing some cool historical facts, like how the Navy wouldn't let the developers of the overpass build over the house if it would block the sunshine (this house was where Admiral Chester W. Nimitz lived the last years of his life). You can easily see the curve of the overpass, as if someone nudged it out of the way. Not a whole lot more on it, other than apparently Willie Brown (past SF mayor) trying to make it the mayor's ceremonial mansion (god, please don't). Overall, despite not being able to go inside any of these houses, they're kept in beautiful condition by someone I'm assuming to be a groundskeeper, and a stop here is worth it for the view alone. Just don't mind the whizzing and whirring of the cars commuting from above.

We came upon this by accident and were so glad we popped in. Many fascinating people buried here,…read moreso much history. When we were there the grass was freshly mown and we were the only people walking about. A lovely way to pay our respects to our fallen soldiers and service people and enjoy a few of the bay.

Beautiful. Clean. Located at the Presidio, this cemetery has an amazing view of the Golden Gate…read moreBridge and the bay. It's a great place that pays homage for our military veterans. There is a convenient kiosk with a QR code near the entrance to help you find your loved one. Bathrooms are also located near the entrance of the cemetery. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are very, very clean. The toilet paper was thick, not the thin, cheap stuff. National cemeteries are usually well kept, and this cemetery is no exception. I would recommend this place but I'm told this cemetery is full as most spaces have already been purchases. Every now and then, if families end up making other arrangements, a space may open up. That said, it's worthwhile to call and see if space is available.

"And I'd love you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of yourself, I'd…read morefind you and I'd love you..." She was born today, January 6th, in 1412. On a recent stay to Paris, high up on my list was to pay tribute to Jeanne d'Arc aka Joan of Arc. Most outside of France only know the story of her execution by burning at the stake on May 30, 1431. She died at only 19 years of age. Yet, there were so many layers of her young life that shaped all of France and filled the History books the world over. French in California? Oui, oui! It's not only about butter croissants, Duck à l'orange, or a glass of 1787 Chateau Lafite, Bordeaux. Then again the French do own nine of ten of the most expensive wines in the world, according to Forbes. So yeah, I get it! Yet, what excites me most about France is the incredible history. Oui! I'm one of those guys lol. Jeanne d'Arc! You don't have to fly to Paris to experience what I see, unless you're into those type of French things;) A wonderful memorial statue of Jeanne d'Arc can be seen right here in San Francisco at the entrance to the Legion of Honor Museum. Anna Huntington created this masterpiece - one of her earliest public works, first exhibited at the Salon of 1910 in Paris. Replicas were made and in 1927 she won the prestigious Legion of Honor award from the French government. A timeless piece that has been on the museum grounds for well over 100-years. In the end, I highly recommend a visit to see the award winning Jeanne d'Arc statue. There's no admission fees to walk the grounds and photos are encouraged. Maybe she's just a name to some, but to the people of France, she is the greatest heroine to have ever lived! A peasant girl that would lead the French to victory. Burned at the stake and becoming a martyr. The church canonized her a Saint. Saint Jeanne d'Arc! You will not be forgotten. In life after life, in age after age, forever... Je' t'aime! I love you!

This is one of two statues in front of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor, which is a…read morewonderful Fine Art Museum located in the Lands End area of San Francisco. The original copy of this statue was first displayed in 1910 in Paris. The sculpture went on to receive recognition from the French Government in 1927. The sculptor was Anna Hyatt Huntington. She was very well regarded in the 20th century. If the name sounds a bit familiar it is because she married the son of Collis Huntington, one of the "Big Four" and namesake of Huntington Park at the top of Nob Hill.

Utterly stunning! This Historic Building has a lobby that rivals all! The early SF photos and…read moreartifacts are simply breathtaking. A spiral stair case twists vertically passing each floor. All surfaces are marble. Stop in to be blown away!

This is a cool building to visit nestled in the middle of Market and all the touristy window…read moreshopping. This building is full of history (check out the photos) and some really gorgeous architecture (it seems pretty old). The place is used for any and everything. From lawyers to therapists to English teachers, this building is full of offices that will surprise you. Great one stop shop for many needs, check out the directory!

Built in 1910, this building served as a gateway for incoming immigrants for intrusive medical…read moreexaminations and screenings to detect any potential contagious diseases or physical defects. Of particular scrutiny were arriving immigrants of Asian descent who faced additional examinations for traces of parasitic diseases. As a result, this facility played a key role in determining who would or would not be allowed into the country. Today, after a full restoration of the entire building, this facility now serves as one of the historic landmarks and museums open to the public on Angel Island. Restoration of this building was made possible through an act granting up to $15M to save the hospital; authorized by then president, George W. Bush. Admission is free, and there is a staffed information desk during operating hours. In addition to being really informative of the injustices and plight faced by Asian immigrants attempting to pass through this facility, this museum also houses some of the cleanest public restrooms on the entire island. The entire building is really clean and well-maintained. And unlike the Detention Barracks, the walls here no longer contain lead paint after the restorations. So there is no cautionary concern about visitors touching the walls. Update: This review is for the Angel Island Hospital. Yelp unfortunately incorrectly merged the business pages.

The Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation's restoration of the barracks used by the…read moreimmigrants (with a focus on detaining the Chinese longer in an open legalized effort to keep as many Chinese out as possible at that time) was very effectively done. I'm not one for 'victimization' focus normally, but it did bring home what it would have felt like back then if you were one of those assigned one of these bunks for a few weeks or months (or even up to 2 yrs), not knowing if you'd be allowed to get off the island to get to San Francisco or would be starting the long trip back to China. Dong Kingman, the painter, was born here and a citizen, but when his family returned to the U.S. when he was 18, he had a tough time being allowed back, while his parents were given papers and allowed to leave the island for San Francisco. They were suspicious that a scar on his forehead when he was 5 was not there when he was 18. Husbands and wives were separated - due to the need to separate bunkees by gender . One way to express anxiety and loneliness was to write, and then carve, what they felt, many in poem form, on the walls. A park ranger found some of the carvings (often layered over by authorities of the time) one night during his rounds and the restoration efforts began. I went to visit it in 2009 with a Meetup photography group and then uploaded the pictures I took from that day but wound up spending more time linking to all the very interesting stories and videos about and from that time. My photos are at http://www.pbase.com/andrys/angel_island . The stories are very varied. Many who were children back then remember only having fun playing. I went to school with classmates who were brought up in the Japanese-American Internment camps, and they just thought it was normal to grow up behind the barbed wire, although their American-born Japanese parents had to give up their homes and bank accounts when they were put in the camps for their 'protection' during the war with Japan. I was reminded about all this today from a story in the L.A. Times that someone sent ( http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-angel-island-20120209,0,1157744.story ) about the Foundation getting an award.for its work on the restoration, and about some original detainees in attendance, one of them 101 and looking much younger. The docent from the Foundation who led us on our barracks tour, a retired caucasian guy with fantastic energy, was unusually clear in his presentation, knew the history well ,and the tour was one of the better ones I've been on. AND, the island is just gorgeous. It's very ironic, looking out from the barracks through windows with prison-like wires or metal, etc. - one of them looking out on the Freedom Bell below.