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

Treasure Island

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

1. Treasure Island Marker

Inscription.
This artificial island was constructed of bay sand in 1936-7 and was the site of Golden Gate International Exposition, Feb. 18, 1939 – Sept. 29, 1940. Tall towers, gigantic goddesses and dazzling lighting effects turned the island into a “magic city.” The exposition celebrated the ascendancy of California and San Francisco as economic, political and cultural forces in the increasingly important Pacific region. Treasure Island has been a U.S. Naval Station since 1941.

Erected 1990 by State Department of Parks and Recreation in cooperation with U.S. Navy Treasure Island Museum, GGIE Research Associates and Art Deco Society of California. (Marker Number 987.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 18, 1864.

Location. 37° 49.361′ N, 122° 22.513′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is on Treasure Island. It is on Avenue A south of 9th Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker and Treasurer Island are accessible by the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Signal (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Islands of the Pacific (approx. 0.4 miles away); Defending the Bay for 150 Years (approx. 0.7 miles away); Indian Occupiers (approx. 1.9 miles away); Egg War of the Farallones (approx. 1.9 miles away); The 10-Inch Rodman (approx. 1.9 miles away); Alcatraz Firepower (approx. 1.9 miles away); Correctional Officers (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . .
1. Golden Gate International Exposition. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 27, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Golden Gate International Exposition 1939. YouTube Video:
Period video tour of the exposition (4m 6s) (Submitted on September 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional commentary.
1. The plaque has been moved.
The plaque was previously located at 37° 48.932′ N, 122° 22.27′ W on Treasure Island Road, south of Clipper Cove Way, at the southwest corner of the island. It is now mounted to a new foundation in the parking lot of the restaurant at Avenue A, south of 9th Street.

— Submitted November 16, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado
Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

2. Treasure Island Marker
of Livermore, California.

Additional keywords. Golden Gate International Exposition

Treasure Island Marker - Old Location image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 31, 2013

3. Treasure Island Marker - Old Location

Treasure Island Administration Building in the background.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 31, 2013

4. Treasure Island Marker

Treasure Island Administration Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 31, 2013

5. Treasure Island Administration Building

Headquarters for the Golden Gate International Exposition.

Statuary from the Golden Gate International Exposition image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 31, 2013

6. Statuary from the Golden Gate International Exposition

View from the Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

7. View from the Plaque

Looking south at Yerba Buena Island and the western span of the Bay Bridge.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, November 14, 2022

8. View from the Plaque

Western span of the Bay Bridge and San Francisco skyline.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,194 times since then and 27 times this year. Last updated on September 25, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 7, 8. submitted on November 16, 2022, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.