The Palace

The only other tourist type item on my agenda for San Francisco was the Palace of Fine Arts. It was also built for the 1915 SF Expo and although a legendary tourist spot, I had never been to it. The structure was not meant to be permanent but it was so impressive in its beauty that it was immediately loved and a foundation was started to save it. The original lasted until the 50's when it just could not take anymore - how about that, a temporary structure built in the early 1910's lasted for almost 40 years - compare that to today's "planned obsolescence" manufacturing. So in the 50's using molds made from the original they made an exact replica using poured concrete. The palace always looks so beautiful in pictures but in person it is breath taking, even on a grey and wet day. If you look at my pictures below you can see people in it which gives you an idea of the scale of it. It is in a small park and a neighborhood sprung up around it. Can you imagine having this as your view??? Or the price of the house that has this for a view? So amazing and beautiful. You can easily see why it was instantly beloved.