|
Cow Hollow
Cow Hollow is located between Pacific Heights and the Marina, consisting of a small section along Union Street. Once filled with natural springs, san dunes and a small lagoon, Cow Hollow is home to many young professionals and is characterized by quaint homes and apartments. At the heart of Cow Hollow is popular Union Street, which is lined with fashionable shops and restaurants. Benito Diaz, a Spanish chaplain, was the first to inhabit this area. In 1845, he petitioned the governor for the land a year later sold the area for 1,000 in silver to Thomas G. Larkin, a real estate speculator and dealer in hides. Cow Hollow is named after the dairy farms that comprised the area during the 19tth century. Approximately 30 dairies existed, the largest having more than 200 cows. During the early part of the century, Cow Hollow's vegetable gardens provided San Francisco with much of its produce.
Marina
This area was originally the site of the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Beautiful sailing vessels line the docks and yacht club of the Marina. Just off the Bay, wide streets with large flats and homes (many in the Mediterranean stucco style) line quiet streets. First populated by Italian immigrants, modern residents of the neighborhood find easy access to the many restaurants, coffee shops and elegant home furnishing stores on Chestnut Street, as well as to the Palace of Fine Arts which hosts the Exploratorium Science Museum. From Lombard St. to the Bay and Laguna St. to the Presidio, there are many options of things to do in the Marina.
Pacific Heights
One of the city's most richly varied residential areas, with houses of all sizes and a remarkable collection of churches and temples. Many of the elegant mansions in Pacific Heights now serve as apartment houses, schools and international consulates. Condominium and Co-operative buildings offer great views and rise many stories. Lafayette and Alta Plaza parks and great bay views (of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and even Marin County) have added to the desirability of this prime San Francisco residential location. Its chief commercial strip, Union Street, has a variety of good shops and restaurants. The neighborhood extends from the Presidio to Van Ness and from Sacramento to Green Streets.
The Presidio
Originally a Spanish military stockade, the Presidio was later occupied by the U.S. Army in 1846 and then nearly abandoned (1849) when troops deserted to seek their fortunes in the Gold Rush. Some of the buildings were built in the 1930's to imitate the Spanish Mission style. Officers quarters and parade grounds still spread out along the beautiful wooded hills of the Presidio. The oldest intact building on the fort is the Army Museum, originally Wright General Hospital, built in 1863. Apart from its interest as a historic military post, the Presidio has some of the finest scenery in the Bay Area, with unmatched views of the Golden Gate Bridge and great windswept stands of Monterey Cyprus. A newly-restored wetlands area along the Bay provides a completely new outdoor landscape.
Presidio Heights
Architecturally known for works by Bernard Maybeck, Ernest Coxhead and an imitation of Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon, this beautiful area is known for its elegant mansions. There are no hi-rises here. Many of the houses have the Presidio in their back garden and others have fantastic views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Presidio Terrace
A circular, one street neighborhood in which the houses and gardens are of significant size. Very attractive and prestigious. Originally created by Fernando Nelson, who also created Jordan Park.
Union Street
This popular Cow Hollow street which defines the neighborhood is filled with specialty shops and restaurants. The 3/4 mile strip extends from Franklin to Steiner and includes the nearby blocks of Fillmore from Union to Greenwich. A social institution!
<< Back to Area Map
|
