Explore the Embarcadero neighborhood, the former epicenter for San Francisco’s massive commercial shipping operations. Hundreds of merchant vessels regularly docked along Embarcadero’s sprawling piers at the height of operations. So many travelers first encountered San Francisco by boat, in fact, that what is now called the waterfront was once called the “City Front.” The remaining historic piers today operate commuter ferries, house popular eateries, and it is the host for the famous sea lion colony.

Discover the gorgeous Spanish Colonial-inspired aesthetics of Harbor Court Hotel’s brilliant exterior façade. Guests are greeted by wide arched entryways and can find detailed terracotta carvings and stunning clay tile roofing.

Discover the engineering feat of the San Francisco Bay Bridge. San Franciscans had envisioned a bridge between Oakland and San Francisco since the mid-1800s. The bridge was not constructed until the 1930s, however, and finally opened in 1936, three months before the Golden Gate Bridge. Charles H. Purcell oversaw the project, which included the relocation of 12 underwater telephone cables and the creation of a manmade island to facilitate construction.