Dominating the skyline, the exterior of this 1970 cathedral is stark, a flowing, sculptural structure (some say it resembles the blades of a washing...

Linked to Portsmouth Square by a footbridge and located on the third floor of a Hilton hotel, the Center hosts a variety of events, including Asian-themed...

Built in 1915 to designs by Arthur Brown and John Bakewell, City Hall is the epitome of the Beaux Arts style visible across the whole Civic Center. The...

This round, domed neo-classical rotunda is honeycombed with hundreds of niches, all filled with lavishly and individualistically decorated cremation urns....

The spectacular brick-built Fort Point was built between 1853 and 1861 to protect the city from a sea attack. The assault never came; the 126 cannons...

Maritime fans, students of history and children will love the historic vessels permanently docked here. Typical of the ships that would have been common...

Visit the sea lions and sea otters at this non-profit centre, which rescues sick or stranded animals, nurtures them back to health and returns them to the...

The 1861 Octagon House is home to the small Museum of Colonial and Federal Decorative Arts, but is most notable as one of two surviving examples of...

Much early missionary work, and the city's first English lessons for Chinese immigrants, took place under this 19th-century building's foreboding clock...

This small museum offers panoramic views of the city and hands-on fun for pre-teens, including an exhibit where they can create their own earthquake....

The lobby (facing Mission Street) of this art deco post office-cum-residential and office tower has intriguing WPA-style murals. Painted in 1941 by the...

This hip and prestigious art school offers the full spectrum of fine arts, including painting, film, photography, sculpture and new media. Its student shows...

Built in 1996 by the architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, San Francisco's public library is beautifully designed, though locals still complain...