Telegraph Hill in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Telegraph Hill

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 11, 2013

1. Telegraph Hill Marker

Inscription. During Gold Rush days a look-out stationed in a structure on this spot observed and signalled (sic) the arrival of incoming vessels. By adjusting movable arms high on a tall pole and by hoisting national colors, he identified the nature of the ship arriving and alerted the town below. After four years, in 1853, this novel signalling (sic) system became obselete (sic) through use of electrical telegraph.

This monument erected by California Historical Society July 20, 1961, on the occasion of the arrival of “S.S. Canberra” of the P&O Steam Navigation Company

Original plaque replaced by the Coit Tower Preservation Fund, and rededicated January 31, 1993 on the arrival of “S.S. Canberra”, World Cruise 1993

Erected 1993 by Coit Tower Preservation Fund. (Marker Number 91.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1929.

Location. 37° 48.183′ N, 122° 24.367′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Telegraph

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Hill. Marker can be reached from Telegraph Hill Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard, San Francisco CA 94133, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Coit Memorial Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Coit Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Site of Third Baptist Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Telegraph Hill Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Belt Line Railroad (approx. 0.2 miles away); Francisco Street (approx. 0.2 miles away); Discarded Treasure (approx. ¼ mile away); Down to the Sea in Ships (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . .
1. Semaphore line - Wikipedia. A semaphore telegraph, optical telegraph, shutter telegraph chain, Chappe telegraph, or Napoleonic semaphore is a system of conveying information by means of visual signals, using towers with pivoting shutters, also known as blades or paddles. Information is encoded by the position of the mechanical elements; it is read when the shutter is in a fixed position...One of the principal hills in San Francisco, California is also named "Telegraph Hill", after the semaphore telegraph which was established there in 1849 to signal the arrival of ships into San Francisco
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, October 11, 2013

2. Telegraph Hill Marker
Bay. (Submitted on November 6, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Telegraph Hill, San Francisco. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on September 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Turn of the century Telegraph Hill, with the semaphore. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shaping San Francisco entry, unknown

3. Turn of the century Telegraph Hill, with the semaphore.

"Telegraph Hill and Washington Square. The castle atop the hill, and the cable car line built to reach it, were both known as "Layman's Folly" (1883-1903)"

1960s Telegraph Hill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Shaping San Francisco entry, unknown

4. 1960s Telegraph Hill

The Coit Tower. Alcatraz is in the distance.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 846 times since then and 34 times this year. Last updated on December 11, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 5, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.