![]() ![]() They have a small, dedicated exhibit with a few of her items and additional information on her life here. Local Secret: You can learn even more about Lillie Hitchcock Coit at the Fire Museum. They separated seven years later, but never divorced. She was around so often that they named her their official 'mascot.' From then on, Lillie spent most of her time at the firehouse. Shortly after moving to San Francisco, the firemen from Local #5 saved her from a fire. She was from a wealthy family and moved to San Francisco when she was young. She was an eccentric character, a little rowdy, but well-liked by the community. Lillie Hitchcock Coit was the San Francisco resident who donated the money to build this beauty. The Story of Lillie Hitchcock Coit & The Building of Coit Tower You might recognize this San Francisco tower from movies such as Sister Act II: Back in the Habit, Doctor Dolittle and from the TV show The Streets of San Francisco.ĭisclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page. The best course of action might be to take the #39 bus to the top and walk down Telegraph Hill to enjoy the lovely trails and the city’s famous wild parrot population, featured in the 2005 film, “The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.You can find Coit Tower on the top of Telegraph Hill on the eastern side of the North Beach neighborhood. Parking is quite limited, and visitors are strongly advised to take public transportation or walk to the landmark. From March through September, hours of operation are 10 a.m. The tower is open to the public seven days a week and closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Tickets are modestly priced at $5 for Bay Area residents and $7 for non-residents. ![]() An elevator takes visitors to the top of the 210-foot tall tower, and tickets are available in the gift shop located at the tower’s entrance. Today, Coit Tower is one of the city’s more popular landmarks and affords a sweeping 360-degree view of the city, its iconic bridges and the Bay. ![]() Coit was a wealthy woman, and, when she died in 1929, she bequeathed a large portion of her estate “for the purpose of adding to the beauty of the city I have always loved.” City officials used some of the money to build Coit Tower and a monument to her beloved firefighters in Washington Square, both competed in 1933. 5 inspired the firefighters to adopt her as the Company’s mascot and an honorary member, and, in a few years, she had become the mascot and ardent supporter of all San Francisco firefighting companies. Her spirit and enduring love for Knickerbocker Engine Company No. Seeing that the firefighters’ strength was flagging, she ran out to the team, grabbed a rope and exhorted the weary men and nearby bystanders to pitch in and get the engine to the burning building. Legend has it that when she was 15 years old, Coit saw a team of firefighters struggling to haul a heavy engine up to a fire on top of Telegraph Hill. Lillie Hitchcock Coit arrived in San Francisco as a child in 1851 when her father, an army doctor stationed at West Point, was transferred here. Like many famous landmarks in our fair city, this classic white concrete spire features an interesting history that involves an eccentric citizen and her love of the City by the Bay. Coit Tower is one of the most recognizable structures of the San Francisco skyline. ![]()
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