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San Francisco's Beloved Transamerica Pyramid: A Visitor's Guide

Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco (credit: Thinkstock)

Pedestrian-friendly San Francisco is known less for its skyscrapers than for its panoramic vistas of the sparkling bay seen from the crest of one of the crazy hills or a cable car clamoring down one. When the city's signature fog remains on the Pacific Ocean side of the Golden Gate Bridge, the silhouette of Transamerica Pyramid is unmistakable as the apex of the city skyline. Appreciate its unique architectural impact by looking skyward from anywhere in the Financial District or as a landmark from a vantage point elsewhere in the Bay Area.

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Transamerica Pyramid
600 Montgomery St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
www.transamerica.com

Since 1972, the unusual pointed shape of San Francisco's tallest building has been a symbol of the City by the Bay, seen from just about anywhere in the city. Centrally located in the Financial District where it covers one square city block, 600 Montgomery Street is a short walk from North Beach, Chinatown and Union Square.

This oddly-shaped tower was considered something of an eyesore when it opened as the world's eighth tallest building. However, with 48 stories topping out at a mere 853 feet, the Transamerica Pyramid now comes far down on that list, while moving way up in widespread appreciation of its architecture.

San Francisco's Changing Skyline

With the scheduled 2017 completion of the 1,070-foot Salesforce Tower, several blocks east at 415 Mission St., the Transamerica Pyramid will lose its 45-year status as San Francisco's tallest building.

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Appreciation Of The Pyramid

Visitors may expect to find an observation deck atop the office tower, but there is none, as the one on the 27th floor was permanently closed following 9/11. A small visitor center on the ground floor has a live feed from the top floor observation cameras, several videos about the building's history and souvenir merchandise for sale in the gift shop open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Those seeking a great view of the Transamerica Pyramid (instead of from it) can be rewarded by visiting nearby Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill. The lookout atop this historic monument is only 210 feet high, but the views benefit from the 400 steps leading up to it through a charming floral cityscape.

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Instagram-Worthy Spots

Often called the world's second best ferry ride, the San Francisco - Sausalito journey provides some of the city's best skyline views to gaze at the Transamerica Pyramid from its base to its tippy top. Capture your best Instagram shot pulling in or out of the Port of San Francisco. On one of those super clear days, the skyline view is good from the waterfront in Sausalito.

When Karl the Fog cooperates, more great spots for a view of the pyramid are out on the bay at Treasure Island, Angel Island and Alcatraz Island or Marin-bound from one of the vista points adjacent to the Golden Gate Bridge or from an overlook way up on Mt. Tam.

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Transamerica Trivia

The Transamerica Pyramid has some fascinating facts to share. Look these five pointers over to impress your team by scoring points on questions that could easily pop up on a trivia quiz.

  • Transamerica Corporation moved their headquarters to Baltimore, but they must have left their hearts in San Francisco, since they still use the pyramid for their corporate logo.
  • The shape of the narrow pyramid was designed to ensure sunlight was not blocked to the streets below.
  • The building has 3,678 windows designed to pivot so they can be washed from the inside.
  • At the foot of the Transamerica Pyramid, Redwood Park is a public space of half-an-acre. Its fountain is surrounded by handsome redwood trees transplanted from the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Its pond has jumping frog sculptures as a tribute to Mark Twain, who once worked at a newspaper office located here.
  • Because the edge of San Francisco Bay used to come right up to Montgomery Street, the hulls of several dozen sunken ships have been revealed by modern day construction excavations. The most famous of these Gold Rush whaleships was The Niantic, which ran aground in 1849 just a few feet away from the base of the Transamerica Pyramid.

This article was written by Laurie Jo Miller Farr via Examiner.com for CBS Local Media
 

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