Lincoln Park Steps in San Francisco

A few weeks ago I drove to Ocean Beach to check out the graffiti along the sea wall. Having grown up in the Outer Richmond I have mixed feelings about the neighborhood and rarely go there. As a child I loved walking along the cliffs from Baker Beach to Lands End, bicycling around Golden Gate Park, ice skating at the old Sutro Baths and going to the Fun House at Playland. Memories of being socked in by summer fog wearing winter woolens while others basked in the sunshine and wore summer clothes elsewhere lessen my nostalgia for the neighborhood.

detail of steps

One of my favorite activities was to walk to The Palace of Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park via the steps at the end of California Street. The Museum was free in those days and to Alma Spreckels great satisfaction had no connection to the snobby inferior DeYoung Museum housed in a building originally constructed for an exhibition. (Alma Spreckels who had humble beginnings and was snubbed by San Francisco society commissioned the Palace to house art she acquired, beautify the City and honor the men who died in WWI.)

I would stop on the North East Corner of California and 32nd to admire the Boy Scouts of America post marking the Lincoln Highway route, the first highway that stretched across the United States from coast to coast. The terminus is by the Museum parking lot. Then I climbed the broad cement staircase to the golf course where I made a beeline across the fairways oblivious to the dangers and irate golfers.

Lincoln Park Steps 2

Whenever I go out that way I drive Lake Street and cut through Sea Cliff to view my steps. On this trip I was surprised and overwhelmed by their transformation and beauty. They had recently been restored and tiled in a beaux-arts inspired design by local artist Aileen Barr. It was an 8 year community driven project conceived and brought to fruition by Friends of Lincoln Park who worked tirelessly to engage the support and funding of Katherine Delmar Burke School, whose entrance is next to the steps, and others to secure funding and city approval.

Detail Steps 3

I still would never live in the Outer Richmond District and most of the relics of my childhood are gone including the Lincoln Highway marker. However on a beautiful day when everyone is leaving town I enjoy an occasional trek along the cliff and wonder if anyone has a late night rumble in the backseat of their car parked at Lands End. Now there is another reason for others to wonder out that way.

Bench at top of steps

Visit Friends of Friends of Lincoln Park to view a gallery of photos of them in progress and read about the evolution of the project