One of my favorite things about living in San Francisco, and our neighborhood, is that there is a magical place just down the street, the Palace of Fine Arts.
Photo by girlinthefog
Built for the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition after the 1906 earthquake and fire, the Palace was one of 11 great exhibit palaces that was build to show the world that it had risen from the ashes. Widely considered the most beautiful structure at the exhibition, the Palace of Fine Arts was the work of California architect Bernard Maybeck. Like other features of the fair, the Palace was intended as ephemeral; at the close of the exposition, it would come down. But when the exposition ended, the Palace lived on — saved from demolition. And thank god it did.
Nowadays, the Palace of Fine Arts it is a mecca for tourist busses, wedding and engagement photos. We love to take long evening dog walks there. With the sun setting and the beautiful grounds there is a certain kind of magic wandering around the paths or standing under the rotunda. Not to mention, we find it hilarious to sit and watch everyone take photos of themselves in front of the palace. Some of the poses they get in are beyond funny.
Despite this, the Palace, especially after the crowds have left is a neighborhood park, full of families, runners and couples like us walking our dog. The redwood trees, giant ferns and amazing lighting in the evening make it a really special, maybe even magical.
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