Columbus Tower, San Francisco
The Columbus Tower鈥攁lso known as the Sentinel Building鈥攈as seen more drama than most Hollywood sets. It was built between 1905 and 1907 under the watchful eye (and wallet) of lawyer-politician Abe Reuf, who felt that San Francisco needed a showpiece. The gleaming project barely got off the ground, though, when the 1906 earthquake struck. The quake and the fires that followed reduced it to a lonely steel skeleton.
But San Francisco doesn鈥檛 stay down for long. Undeterred, Reuf rebuilt the tower in 1907, wrapping it in gleaming copper and setting up his office at the very top鈥攗ntil karma called... Just two years later, Reuf was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 14 years in prison. While he served time, the building鈥檚 copper cladding quietly aged into that now-iconic green patina.
Over the decades, the building鈥檚 story only got juicier. Legend has it that the first Caesar salad was tossed right here at Caesar鈥檚 restaurant, located inside the tower, until Prohibition shut it down in 1919. The building鈥檚 creative streak returned in the 1960s, when folk group The Kingston Trio turned the basement into their recording studio.
By the 1970s, the tower looked tired鈥攗ntil filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola stepped in like a cinematic savior. He bought it, restored its vintage glow, and installed his American Zoetrope studio. Today, as San Francisco Landmark No. 33, the Columbus Tower stands proud鈥攑art movie history, part culinary myth, and part copper-clad survivor鈥攑resently serving Napa Valley wine instead of scandal at the charming Zoetrope Caf茅 on the ground floor...
But San Francisco doesn鈥檛 stay down for long. Undeterred, Reuf rebuilt the tower in 1907, wrapping it in gleaming copper and setting up his office at the very top鈥攗ntil karma called... Just two years later, Reuf was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 14 years in prison. While he served time, the building鈥檚 copper cladding quietly aged into that now-iconic green patina.
Over the decades, the building鈥檚 story only got juicier. Legend has it that the first Caesar salad was tossed right here at Caesar鈥檚 restaurant, located inside the tower, until Prohibition shut it down in 1919. The building鈥檚 creative streak returned in the 1960s, when folk group The Kingston Trio turned the basement into their recording studio.
By the 1970s, the tower looked tired鈥攗ntil filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola stepped in like a cinematic savior. He bought it, restored its vintage glow, and installed his American Zoetrope studio. Today, as San Francisco Landmark No. 33, the Columbus Tower stands proud鈥攑art movie history, part culinary myth, and part copper-clad survivor鈥攑resently serving Napa Valley wine instead of scandal at the charming Zoetrope Caf茅 on the ground floor...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in San Francisco. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Columbus Tower on Map
Sight Name: Columbus Tower
Sight Location: San Francisco, USA (See walking tours in San Francisco)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Francisco, USA (See walking tours in San Francisco)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Francisco, California
Create Your Own Walk in San Francisco
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Francisco is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Fisherman's Wharf Walking Tour
Fisherman鈥檚 Wharf in San Francisco鈥攈ere, the smell of salt air meets the scent of sizzling crab, and history rubs elbows with souvenir shops... Once a scrappy working harbor, this stretch of the city鈥檚 waterfront is now one of San Francisco's most iconic and visited destinations. Over the years, it's seen it all鈥攇old fever, immigrant grit, and now, selfie sticks galore.
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
The... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Castro District Walking Tour
It's a well-known fact that San Francisco is the place where the gay and lesbian culture flourished in its modernity in the mid-20th century. The Castro District, where the rainbow flag is flying high, houses several iconic locations that have played pivotal roles in LGBTQ+ history and continue to be celebrated today.
One such is the Castro Theater. This renowned landmark, which has been... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
One such is the Castro Theater. This renowned landmark, which has been... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
North Beach Walking Tour
North Beach鈥攁lso known as San Francisco鈥檚 Little Italy鈥攊s one of the city鈥檚 most storied neighborhoods, whose personality is far bigger than its footprint. Once upon a tide, this area was literally a beach before landfill projects in the late 1800s expanded the city鈥檚 coastline. Early on, it became a hub for dockworkers, fishermen, and merchants, who built a tight-knit, working-class... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Famous Architecture Walking Tour
San Francisco is one of the world's top travel destinations, famous for its spectacular tourist attractions like Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. But besides that, it also boasts a huge variety of world-known architecture fit to delight the eye of any beholder. Let's give ourselves an aesthetic treat, too, and check out some of the city's most... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Union Square Walking Tour
Union Square, a bustling hub in the heart of San Francisco, is a place where locals and tourists alike gather to enjoy a mix of shopping, entertainment, and cultural attractions. In addition to being the third largest shopping area in the United States, the square features an array of restaurants, theaters, and a wonderful concentration of fine art galleries.
One of the prominent landmarks in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
One of the prominent landmarks in... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
San Francisco Introduction Walking Tour
A commercial and cultural hub of northern California, San Francisco is a popular tourist destination known for its steep rolling hills and eclectic mix of world-famous landmarks. The iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the teeth-rattling cable cars carrying riders up and down Nob Hill, Alcatraz Island, and the oldest Chinatown in North America are just some of the city's prominent attractions, each... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.3 Km or 3.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Divine Artisan Chocolates in San Francisco
San Francisco is home to the most delicious artisan chocolates! From the historic Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory to New American TCHO chocolates, there are many local chocolate boutiques and factories to visit where you might be treated to a few samples. From exotic flavors such as lavender-walnut...
14 Souvenirs That Scream San Francisco
Home to many historic landmarks, such as Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown and Alcatraz, San Francisco is closely associated with many iconic images of the American culture, such as Levi's jeans, baseball, and hippie movement. Modern Frisco carefully preserves its legacy by keeping it alive...