"For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one." - Khalil Gibran…read more She sits on a hill on Lands End in San Francisco... ..a humbling reminder of the perils of war. The generation of WWII are considered by many the greatest American generation in modern times. Imagine the generation that brought Hitler and the fanatical Nazi party to their knees, defeated the once invincible Evil Empire of Japan, and built the best automobiles to ever have roamed the roads. And we haven't even touched the Banana Splits, Soda Floats, A-line Skirts, & Drive-In's of the day! The 1940's was well before my time, but I'm a historian by trade and old soul, and at times feel it was my era. Men opening doors for women, respect for our elders, the Delahaye Teardrop Coupe, and the King of Swing! Yet, with all my imaginary feel good memories of this bygone era... I do not find anything glamorous about those that died in WWII. The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial is a reminder of the sacrifice this generation made for us. The battle scars on her war-torn body resonates with suffering, yet with all the twisted metal, she still retains honor, service, duty, and American pride. The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) was commissioned in 1934 and became legendary during WWII, 1941-1945, earning 17 Battle Stars. She would become one of the most decorated navy ships, ever! Those that served on her earned the Presidential Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism, gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps. The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) was a Heavy Cruiser that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 07, 1941. During the great Battle of Guadalcanal of 1942, nearly 100 sailors or marines died, over 100 were injured, and 5 were lost at sea. She was hit 45 times, yet managed to survive one of the greatest battles in American history! In the WWII years that followed The USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) continued in many historic battles. She was repaired numerous times and continued to be on the front line in the Pacific up until the surrender of the Empire of Japan! Today, the spirit of this legendary ship can be seen at The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial located at Lands End in San Francisco. The memorial is set around the bridge wings extensively damaged from the great Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. It's a simple, yet powerful tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom! In the end, I recommend The USS SAN FRANCISCO Memorial. It might not be for everyone, as some may see it as a heap of old metal. I see it as America's soul, a time when our grandparents or great grandparents became the greatest American generation in modern times! Always in my heart!

A stop near lands end and the cliff house restaurant. It has the parts from the ship at a nice…read morememorial.

Yesterday we did a nice day trip to the Golden Gate national recreation area, where we visited the…read morehistoric site for the Nike missile silo number 88L. as of April 2026, the site is only opened on the last Saturday of the month between 12 and 3 PM. There is a free parking, but the lot is small so if it is full, you can park at one of the other parking lot that are located either below the side or past the site. However, you would have to walk either uphill or downhill from the other parking lot and that is roughly about 1/3 of a mile. This was a very interesting visit and we were able to see several radars, equipment, and missiles from the Cold War in a guided tour by several elderly military volunteers who maintain and run the tours. Some of them who worked at that same site between 1950s and 1970s. Due to the current political administration, they have lost most funding and it was very shocking to hear that the site opens once a month and that it is staffed completely by all volunteers. They told us that one ranger visits for two hours every month due to budget cuts to the park system. Volunteers are in their 80s and 90s, and after talking to them, they feel sad that their history and experiences will be lost due to lack a funding since it is very likely that the site will close completely as the volunteers become unable to keep these going due to their age and lack of parks personnel and national parks funding. The site has multiple things to see, they have a very small area where they show a movie and have some artifacts to see, then you move over to another area where you can see some missiles and lastly you walk over to the site where they store some of the missiles and you get a chance to observe how they bring one up and down (and also go underneath where you can see where they have them stored and their communications area.

This was the first place our 11 year old truly made a comment about how cool something like was…read more We were the first tour of the day, so when they opened the doors to lift the missile; the water from the rain dumped down making a huge dramatic effect to add. This was one of the most interesting and cool places we've gone too. Having been at White Sands too, it was cool to see it all "put together". I can't recommend this stop enough. Junior Ranger program was short too, which my son loved.

October 15, 2025. I visited the Holocaust Memorial and can…read moreonly hope that the those who come here not only reflect on all the persons murdered during WW II, but also the sad moments where we continue to see one group dehumanize another. It's worth taking some time to reflect here.

Having studied the Holocaust and related historical events in college, I was pleased to find that…read morethis monument exists, near the Legion of Honor in SF. It's a fairly simple exhibit, but what it symbolizes can evoke a world of emotions, contemplation, and reflection. The sculpture is presented tastefully, a work of art, just enough to remind visitors of this horrible act of genocide during WW2, and to show respect, while perhaps bringing attention to the importance of learning from the past. This memorial is located right next to the Legion of Honor parking lot, and can easily be missed because the wall of plaques is blocking from view the sculpture, which is on a lower level, down some steps. The plaques have words by the sculptor, George Segal, and a description of the exhibit and history of what it stands for, as well as a list of the concentration camps and killing centers as a symbolic memorial for survivors and their families. A reminder of evil from the past, and the repercussions, but also a message of strength and hope and the importance of remembering.

When crossing the eastern span of the San Francisco Bridge, few people realize the history of the…read moremilitary in the area. One specifically, the Nimitz House, hidden just under the freeway on the east side of Yerba Buena island, has an incredible story and history! This house was the final residence of General Chester Nimitz, the leader and architect of WWII Pacific Theater. Simply said, the man whose leadership and strategy was used to win the war and allowed the Allies to proclaim victory. This house is a three story mansion and shows its unique architectural splendor as you approach it. It contains large windows which enabled views of the east bay and if you search the internet, you will see the elegant interior - a fitting home for its resident and his family. Gen Nimitz past away in this home at the age of 81 from a stroke. Unfortunately, California is not maintaining the residence and it has been falling in disrepair. Paint, windows, and the structure are all showing signs of neglect. Don't let its condition stop you from visiting though. Although you can't enter, you can appreciate its history and marvel of the fantastic area and views it provided.

Have you ever fallen into a rabbit hole of discovery on the Internet, only to find yourself, at…read more3am, looking at pictures of seemingly abandoned buildings on islands off the coasts of California or Mexico, which you found by zooming into said islands on Google maps and looking through the posted photos, then wondering who the hell this random guy named Christian is who posted the photos not even five months ago? What is Christian's story, you wonder, as you continue to look through the other attractions of the island, which does not include residential or commercial buildings, only to discover a few hiking trails that lead seemingly to nowhere...but what's this? A campsite with no electricity, running water, or bathrooms? Just a field on an island designated as a campsite, reached by some trail made by a dude with a machete, or something? But despite the lack of these amenities...there are picnic tables! Who decided first that it should be a campsite? Who brought the tables? What are the backstories? I've found some neat places online using this exact technique, and I've been fortunate enough to visit such places. It's cool to stand in the location of such a place after seeing all the pictures online and building it up in your head, and honestly, what makes these places better is when there aren't a ton of people crowding around when you get there, trying to take a picture for their Instagram. Sometimes, like in the case of this house, I do the reverse and come upon a neat building, art piece, or other landmark as I'm out doing other things, then furiously search the Internet for more info on the history. For me, the places that are a bit mysterious are the coolest finds. We came across this spot accidentally; we had gone to see the mission in downtown and stopped to check out Treasure Island on the way back. We drove around a bit looking for a good place to see the skyline, and came upon this very unique bit of Yerba Buena, which is somewhat hidden on the side and requires you take some twists and turns down a side road. Although there is an informational board in front of this house that suggests many people visit this place, the houses are surprisingly well-kept, with all windows intact and walls free of graffiti tags, and things are generally not trashed by garbage human beings. Looking into and around each of the houses, I got the sense that this is an area that is largely unvisited, especially compared to the neighboring areas of San Francisco, and now even Treasure Island. I wanted to do my own digging to see how well-known this weird circle of Victorian-style houses, juxtaposed beneath the modern industrial backdrop of the various overpass-bridges, are to people my age online. The results were interesting. One Reddit post with someone claiming you can rent these out for events. Quite a few articles discussing some cool historical facts, like how the Navy wouldn't let the developers of the overpass build over the house if it would block the sunshine (this house was where Admiral Chester W. Nimitz lived the last years of his life). You can easily see the curve of the overpass, as if someone nudged it out of the way. Not a whole lot more on it, other than apparently Willie Brown (past SF mayor) trying to make it the mayor's ceremonial mansion (god, please don't). Overall, despite not being able to go inside any of these houses, they're kept in beautiful condition by someone I'm assuming to be a groundskeeper, and a stop here is worth it for the view alone. Just don't mind the whizzing and whirring of the cars commuting from above.

Here's a well-designed Veterans memorial plaza --made Hallowed and Sacred ground. That means never…read moreis yelling done here and no playing or games are to be played here. That includes pokeman players. I stood here to recognize, honor, respect, and grieve at the sacrifice of GIs. For they left too many pieces of their youth in too many battles for too many years. As I always do during our visits to any Veterans memorials, I cried silently. For over and over and over I kept hearing young voices. They were softly saying: when you go home, tell them of us and that for your tomorrows, we gave our today. All Veterans memorials commemorate that the highest obligation and privilege of citizenship is that of bearing arms for one's country. Veterans answered the call. Isaiah 6:8 ESV: And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." Here is a memorial for those who wrote a blank check to the United States of America for up to and including their life. As I left, I remembered, all history, such as what is here, is prologue. February is Black History Month During World War I (28 July 1914 - 11 Nov 1918), despite rampant, violent and overt racism, more than 350,000 black Americans Served in US Army segregated units; 6,750 in US Navy though only allowed as coal heavers, messmen, stewards, and cooks; just over 5,000 in US Coast Guard as messmen others at segregated Life-Saving Stations there to aid ships in distress; the US Marines then barred all blacks. Approximately 1,200 of those holding US Army officer commissions during World War I were black. The French needed more military men during World War I and welcomed black Americans as equal comrades-in-arms. To French Army instructors, blacks were simply Americans to be trained for combat. The black Americans clearly excelled. The 369th Infantry regiment, later nicknamed the "Harlem Hellfighters", of which one Henry Johnson was a member, was among the first to arrive in France, and among the most highly decorated when it returned home. William Henry Johnson (circa 15 Jul 1892 - 1 Jul 1929), commonly known as Henry Johnson, enlisted 5 June 1917, in United States Army. Private Johnson performed heroically and above the call of duty in the first African American unit of the US Army to engage in combat in World War I. On watch in the Argonne Forest on 14 May 1918, he fought off a German raid in hand-to-hand combat, killing several enemy soldiers and rescuing a fellow soldier all while suffering 21 wounds. In 1918, the French government awarded Johnson with a Croix de Guerre with the highest Star and Bronze Palm. He was the first US soldier in World War I to receive that honor. Johnson's military heroism first came to national attention in an article by Irvin S. Cobb entitled "Young Black Joe" published in the 24 August 1918 Saturday Evening Post. Returning home, now-Sergeant Johnson participated with his 369th Infantry regiment in a victory parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City in February 1919. Veterans Bureau records show a "permanent and total disability" rating for tuberculosis granted to Johnson 16 September 1927. Additional Veterans Bureau records refer to him receiving monthly Veterans disability compensation and regular visits by Veterans Bureau medical personnel until his Service-connected all-too-early death 1 July 1929, in Washington, D.C. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery 6 July 1929. In November 1991, a monument was erected in Albany, New York's Washington Park in Johnson's honor, and a section of Northern Boulevard was renamed Henry Johnson Boulevard. The US Army awarded him awarded the Purple Heart in 1996, and in 2002, the Distinguished Service Cross. 4 September 2007, the Brighter Choice Foundation in Albany, New York, dedicated the Henry Johnson Charter School, with Johnson's granddaughter in attendance. A 1918 commercial poster honoring Johnson's wartime heroics was the subject of a 2012 episode of the PBS television series History Detectives. December 2014, City School District of Albany established a Junior Reserve Officers Training Program (JROTC) at Albany High School named the Henry Johnson Battalion in honor of him. The program currently enrolls over 100 cadets. 2 June 2015, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama in a posthumous ceremony at the White House. 2017, Albany-area PBS station WMHT aired a documentary about Johnson titled Henry Johnson: A Tale of Courage. Johnson's story is recounted in the song Don't Tread on Me (Harlem Hellfighters) by the Ukrainian death metal band 1914 on their album Where Fear and Weapons Meet, released 22 October 2021. 24 May 2022, The Naming Commission recommended that Fort Polk in Leesville, Louisiana, be renamed Fort Johnson after Henry Johnson, rather than its former namesake, a confederate who had taken up arms again US.

REVIEW #2900! The…read moreVeterans Memorial Plaza was dedicated on May 31, 2004. It's located adjacent to Walnut Creek City Hall and was one place that Gayle walked me through on our very first date back on March 9, 2005. It consists of a tree-lined and landscaped plaza, granite walkways and facings, quiet places to sit, small pools of water, strategically placed inscriptions, and obelisks marked with the 5 main military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. I returned for the 2011 Memorial Day ceremony that started across the street at the Civic Park Gazebo and finished up here. This year's theme was to honor the more tan 80,000 American soldiers who remain missing in action. The guest speaker was U.S. Navy Cmdr. Renee Richardson, who works for the U.S. Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office in Washington, D.C. Although that address was very good, one other main highlight for me was the recognition of a citizen who had worn a POW/MIA bracelet for years, and donated it to her solder, as his remains were finally recovered and given a proper military burial. The theme of "Leave No One Behind" was very powerful at that point. The other key highlight was Gayle's son (a Marine Veteran) laying a wreath at the Plaza in in memory of service personnel who paid the ultimate sacrifice. And all this while his daughter, wife, parents, other family members, a Marine Honor Guard, a military plane overflight, and other citizens (including Veterans) bore witness.

Never knew this statue existed here at the Ferry Building, but thought it was a great find in the…read morerear plaza along the water, a bit randomly placed, but it does stand out from a distance. The statue is a beautiful piece of art in great condition, honoring such an influential historical figure. There are a couple plaques attached to the structure, with quotes by Gandhi (and Albert Einstein's words about Gandhi, as he was inspired by Gandhi's teachings). A cool statue to have in SF, displaying and promoting words of peace and freedom.

Another one of Alana's San Francisco bookmarks... (gee, she did so much research! I'm just her…read morechauffeur!) Located behind The Ferry Building, in the parking lot, this statue of Gandhi faces the Pacific Ocean with a peaceful demeanor. His walking stick has been repaired and he looks dignified to me. I read the reviews and about the controversy. The main thing is that a great leader has been remembered forever by this Art Installation and I appreciate the work that was involved in creating this tribute. There is a similar statue in Honolulu, in front of the zoo. Gandhi also faces the Pacific Ocean which is across the street. Isn't that cool? Remember this famous quote: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." RIP Mohandas Gandhi 10-2-1869 to 1-30-48

Beautiful landmark! It's the most iconic image of the city of Piedmont Park, with the lovely vase…read moreand arches welcoming you to the grassy fields, trees, and playground at the park. It's lovely to have a picnic here as well, and to walk around and take in the serene scenery.

Its boarded up now and triple gated now there is no way in and everything looks rustedread more

I want to see a Children's safe Monestery Recovery Program to enter. Providing free medical care ,…read morefree food and free shelter.