The Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco

Afternoon with the Gods

Kathleen from San Francisco

"The "Palace of Fine Arts" in San Francisco comprises the only surviving structure from the Pan Pacific Exhibition in 1915. Such beauty, available for free!"

I started walking the grounds surrounding the collective area known as the Palace of Fine Arts but approached with an open mind because what I expected and what I saw and experienced were two entirely different things.

Granted, pictures are everywhere, but I was sure I’d never be able to capture the emotion I was beginning to feel just walking the grounds. Considering the 12 Olympian gods had an entire mountain to themselves, the size of the Palace and its grounds would probably have been laughable.

And yet, strolling those lush grounds with the goddesses looking down from above, the angels above the entrances, the fountain, the planters, staircases, and reliefs, all made me realize that these amazing edifices were all created by mere mortals for the enjoyment of the people attending the Pan Pacific Exhibition in 1915. Impressive.

The Palace of Fine Arts comprises the only surviving structures from that exhibition. Such beauty being available to the public at large, and for free, is a rarity in a big city. To have it as a standing memento to such a glorious time in history is truly remarkable.

Go. Stroll the grounds Immerse yourself in the awe, the power, and the beauty. Spend an afternoon with the Gods and with just a little bit of imagination, you’ll feel like you’re on Mt. Olympus and witnessing part of history too!

Art & culture

Relaxing

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San Francisco Spotter Kathleen

About me Born on an American Army base in Germany, I came to the states when I was six months old and my parents were stationed back home at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where I spent my entire childhood. Little did I know that the military lifestyle was going to become what inspired me to become an artist. I have been a photographer for most of my life. Whether I knew it or not is another story. I picked up my first camera at the age of eight and became - much to the chagrin of my strict parents - the family voyeur. Often my dad would tell me that what I was doing was ...

About this spot

3601 Lyon Street

US$

free

Website

4158861296

Social

Sep 21, 2025

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