Russian Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco , California . It is named after one of San Francisco's 44 hills , and one of its original "Seven Hills".
31-626: 37°47′29″N 122°24′47″W / 37.79132°N 122.41306°W / 37.79132; -122.41306 The SF Masonic Auditorium (originally the Grand Masonic Auditorium and formerly known as the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium ) is a building and auditorium located atop Nob Hill in San Francisco , California . The building was designed by Bay Area architect Albert Roller (1891-1981), and opened in 1958. It serves as
62-598: A character played by James Stewart lives at 900 Lombard Street in Alfred Hitchcock 's film Vertigo (1958). Based on the view from the window, Admiral James T. Kirk 's apartment seen in the films Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock was located in the Russian Hill area of San Francisco. In the racing video game Blur , one of the courses is named after and closely resembles Russian Hill. A parody of Russian Hill appears as
93-557: A new Grand Lodge building in San Francisco at the corner of Post and Montgomery Streets. It was completed in 1863 and destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . The architectural firm of Bliss & Faville designed a new building for the Grand Lodge of California at 25 Van Ness Avenue which was completed in 1913 and occupied by them until 1958 when it relocated to the new building at 1111 California Street. The 25 Van Ness building
124-452: A single lot between two apartment buildings on the north side of Washington Street, between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street. Washington & Hyde Mini Park has a playground for children and landscaping. 37°47′36″N 122°24′52″W / 37.793230°N 122.414480°W / 37.793230; -122.414480 Russian Hill, San Francisco Russian Hill is directly to the north (and slightly downhill) from Nob Hill , to
155-614: A small plaque and memorial placed by the Russian Government , that is dedicated to the original Russian cemetery that once stood there. Another park on the hill on Vallejo Street is named after Ina Coolbrith . Russian Hill is home to the former San Francisco Art Institute , located on Chestnut Street between Jones and Leavenworth Streets. The Academy of Art University also maintains a presence in this neighborhood with their Chestnut Street building hosting their fine art MFA studios, photo classrooms, and photo studios. The neighborhood
186-471: A term for prominent and wealthy men. This was shortened to nob , probably the origin of the area's eventual name. The neighborhood was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire , except for the granite walls surrounding the Stanford, Crocker, Huntington and Hopkins mansions. These walls remain and black scars caused by smoke from the intense fires that burned after the quake can still be seen. Also gutted by
217-810: A variety of natural and Masonic themes. It contains gravel and soil from each of the 58 counties in California. Freemasonry came to California just prior to the Gold Rush of 1849 . By 1850, a Grand Lodge was constituted in Sacramento, to oversee the Lodges operating throughout the State at that time (primarily in port towns along the Sacramento Delta and gold mining towns in the Sierra foothills ). Construction began in 1861 for
248-526: Is a residential area known for its architecture, including the Feusier Octagon House . The Vallejo Street Crest Historic District is located in the southeast portion of the hill and is known for the cultural history and architecture, the district is surrounded by a retaining wall and natural bluff. A small park at the top of the hill on Vallejo Street (or the Vallejo Street Crest) features
279-464: Is among the highest-income neighborhoods in the United States, as well as one of the most desirable and expensive real estate markets in the country. Prior to Covid-19 , it was the most expensive real estate market per metre squared, narrowly beating Monte Carlo , although it has since fallen heavily. It was the only place in the United States so far where market price per square metre exceeded
310-771: Is an affluent district, home to many of the city's upper-class families as well as a large young urban professional population , and a growing Chinese immigrant population from Chinatown to the east. Four of San Francisco's well-known and most expensive hotels are located on Nob Hill, along California Street: the Mark Hopkins Hotel , the Stanford Court , the Huntington Hotel , and the Fairmont Hotel . The hotels were named for San Francisco tycoons Mark Hopkins , Leland Stanford , & Collis Potter Huntington — three of
341-489: Is currently used by the Rent Board of San Francisco, but evidence of its Masonic history survives in the façade, lobby and other areas that bear Masonic motifs. Nob Hill, San Francisco Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco , California , United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions . Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class . Nob Hill
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#1732855559099372-780: Is in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and is within the Jean Parker Elementary School attendance area. The school building was first built in 1911 and rebuilt in 1996. Life in the neighborhood during the 1970s was used as the basis for the fictionalized series Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin . Much of the famous car chase sequence in the 1968 thriller Bullitt , starring Steve McQueen (whose character lived in Nob Hill on Taylor and Clay streets), were filmed on Russian Hill, notably
403-423: Is most famous for Lombard Street , the one-way section on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, in which the roadway has eight sharp turns (or switchbacks ) that have earned the street the distinction of being "the crookedest street in the world". As it is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city, this section of the neighborhood is frequently crowded with tourists. Tourists also frequent
434-406: Is one of the oldest houses still standing in San Francisco, and possibly one of the first examples of Italianate-style architecture in the city. The switchbacks design of Lombard Street was first suggested by property owner Carl Henry and was built in 1922, intended to reduce the hill's natural 27 percent grade, which was too steep for most vehicles to climb. Because of the steepness of
465-788: The Big Four entrepreneurs of the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad — and James Graham Fair , respectively. Opposite the Fairmont Hotel and Pacific Union Club is Grace Cathedral , one of the city's largest houses of worship. The Grand Lodge of California 's headquarters are the SF Masonic Auditorium . In Lower Nob Hill, the Academy of Art University owns and operates several buildings for housing and educational opportunities. Also in lower Nob Hill, on Bush Street, are
496-529: The Memorial Home of Fire Chief Dennis T. Sullivan and the sister hotels, the White Swan Inn and Petite Auberge. There are numerous historic and well maintained parks throughout Nob Hill. The most prominent park in the neighborhood is Huntington Park , which takes up an entire block, bounded by Sacramento Street to the north, Taylor Street to the west, California Street to the south, and Cushman Street to
527-534: The Nobs – who built their mansions on the hill. The area was settled in the rapid urbanization happening in the city in the late 19th century. Because of the views and its central position, it became an exclusive enclave of the rich and famous on the west coast who built large mansions in the neighborhood . This included prominent tycoons such as Leland Stanford , founder of Stanford University and other members of The Big Four. These early citizens were known as nabobs ,
558-427: The Russian Hill cemetery in the first half of the century. The cemetery was eventually removed, but the name remained. In 1853 and 1854, a partnership was formed by William H. Ranlett (the architect), Charles Homer (the general contractor), and Joseph H. Atkinson (the mason/brick contractor), in order to build three houses in Russian Hill (at what is now known as the Vallejo Street Crest). The Atkinson House (1853)
589-551: The average yearly salary in the country ($ 72 400). Nob Hill is a luxury destination in San Francisco, owing to its numerous Michelin-starred restaurants , boutiques , cultural institutions , art galleries , and historic landmarks . The neighborhood is named after one of San Francisco's original "Seven Hills" and it contains the Lower Nob Hill Apartment Hotel District (also known as Lower Nob Hill). The actual peak of Nob Hill lies approximately at
620-570: The cable car line along Hyde Street, which is lined with many restaurants and shops. Alice Marble Tennis Courts are four hardcourt tennis courts located at Lombard and Hyde Streets. The courts offer a view of the bay and North Beach and can be unsuitable for tennis on windy days. A basketball court is located adjacent to the tennis courts. The San Francisco Cable Cars serving the Powell-Hyde line stops nearby. San Francisco Police Department Central Station, Metro Division serves Russian Hill. It
651-503: The east leads to the neighborhood of North Beach . Down the hill to the west, past Van Ness Avenue, are Cow Hollow and the Marina districts. The neighborhood's name goes back to the Gold Rush -era, when settlers discovered a small Russian cemetery at the top of the hill. Russian naval and merchant ships frequently visited San Francisco throughout the 19th century beginning in 1806, and there are several mentions of burials of crew members in
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#1732855559099682-408: The east. Huntington Park was formerly the site of the mansion of Central Pacific Railroad baron Collis Potter Huntington; the mansion was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, however, and Huntington's widow donated the property to the city to establish a park in 1915. Huntington Park has a playground for children, landscaping, and several fountains. Washington & Hyde Mini Park is situated on
713-459: The fires was the newly completed Fairmont Hotel at Mason and California Streets, as well as the mansion of tycoon James Clair Flood . Both structures had stone exteriors that survived the fires, and both buildings were subsequently cleaned and refurbished. The Fairmont Hotel remains in operation to this day and the Flood Mansion is the headquarters of the exclusive Pacific-Union Club . While
744-663: The hill, many streets, portions of Vallejo and Green streets, for example, are staircases. Views from the top of the hill extend in several directions around the Bay Area, including the Bay Bridge , Marin County , the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz . The Macondray Lane District is notable for its historic architecture in a hilly and woodsy area, which features the pedestrian-only Macondray Lane . The Paris Block Architectural District
775-578: The intersection of Jones and Sacramento Streets. North of Nob Hill is Russian Hill . West of the district is Pacific Heights . To the south of Nob Hill is the Union Square shopping district, Civic Center district, and the Tendernob neighborhood. East of Nob Hill is Chinatown and the Financial District . Northeast of Nob Hill is North Beach and Telegraph Hill . The Polk Gulch area comprises
806-462: The main (north) façade, there is a large frieze by Emile Norman bearing the inscription " Dedicated to our Masonic Brethren who died in the cause of freedom ", depicting stylized servicemen from each of the four branches of the Armed Services, and a global tug of war representing global struggles. Inside the lobby is a huge mosaic window likewise designed by Emile Norman . The window depicts
837-595: The meeting venue for the Masons of California during their Annual Communication, as well as being used as a concert venue the rest of the year (operated by Live Nation ). The administrative offices of the Grand Lodge of California are contained in the upper floors, and the Henry Wilson Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry is located on the mezzanine. The basement contains a five-level public parking garage. On
868-533: The neighborhood was able to maintain its affluence following the quake, every mansion owner moved or rebuilt elsewhere. Some rebuilt mansions further west in San Francisco, for example, in Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow . In place of where the mansions had been located, swank hotels were erected. Hotels built over the ruins of the former mansions include the Mark Hopkins , Huntington and Stanford Court. Nob Hill
899-433: The scenes on Taylor Street. The neighborhood was also featured in the early scenes of the 1982 action-comedy feature film, 48 Hrs . The cast of The Real World: San Francisco , which aired in 1994, lived in the house at 949 Lombard Street on Russian Hill from February 12 to June 19, 1994. In Anne Rice 's book The Wolf Gift , the main character, Reuben Golding, grew up in Russian Hill. John "Scottie" Ferguson ,
930-637: The south (uphill) from Fisherman's Wharf , and to the west of the North Beach neighborhood. The Hill is bordered on its west side by parts of the neighborhoods of Cow Hollow and the Marina District . At the northern foot of the hill is Ghirardelli Square , which sits on the waterfront of the San Francisco Bay, Aquatic Park , and Fisherman's Wharf, a popular tourist area. A trip down the winding turns of Lombard Street and across Columbus Avenue to
961-538: The westernmost portions of Nob Hill and Russian Hill. The southern portion of Nob Hill is known as Lower Nob Hill. On its southwest slope, the area in between Nob Hill and the Tenderloin neighborhood is an area known as the Tendernob. Prior to the 1850s, Nob Hill was called California Hill (after California Street, which climbs its steep eastern face), but was renamed after the Central Pacific Railroad's Big Four – known as