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Presidio Hts.&Terrace Architecture&Presidio Hike+Swedenbor.Church Tour&Lunch
Sun, Jul 12, 5:30 PM***\*Don't be a No-Show*** *and have your membership in the Group canceled. See the,\*No-Show policies at the bottom.* The idea is to make a nice part of the day of this outing. Relax like on vacation. [Have lunch ](https://www.presidiogolf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Ironwoods-Brunch-2026.pdf)and enjoy the variety of activities and give it three hours. We're meeting in front of the former home of William Hammond Hall, the father of GG Park and the first State Engineer of Calif. He finished building this 4900sf house in 1913 and lived at this location from 1905 until 1933. We'll review a little history of the Panama Pacific Int'l Exposition when we get to the vantage point of Lyon & Broadway. Inside the Presidio we'll do a Nature Hike. We'll do a Presidio Heights and Presidio Terrace architecture tour, including a stop inside the Swedenborgian Church. [Then lunch at Presidio Golf Course restaurant](https://www.presidiogolf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Ironwoods-Brunch-2026.pdf), *at the end*\*\*.\*\* We can dine outside overlooking the beautiful Golf Course. The restaurant is called the **Ironwoods Bar & Grill.** If pricey for you find someone to split something with. (I like doing that because I eat less too.) (Note: *A perfect follow-up to this tour* is the [Pacific Hts., Victorian Tour coming up on Sunday, August 9th.](https://www.meetup.com/hikes-and-tours-of-wonderful-places-in-the-sf-bay-area/events/313362240/) Outside of the Sunset District and houses in the southern part of SF (mid-century modern tract houses) these two tours will cover, almost, all of the residential, architectural styles, found in SF from 1860 to 1960.) This tour highlights not only the diversity of the architecture, but also the mix of architects and people who built, occupied and maintained these grand properties. About 50 of which are on our tour today, including Presidio Terrace. I also have some ephemera we can see to get a feel for what life was like here about ninety years ago. Here are some links if you would like to help with Meetup expenses. [Here is a Venmo link.](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3262702482882560580&created=1757371525), for my account. Here is my Paypal account. '[herrmann48@comcast.net'](http://herrmann48@comcast.net'/) The walking tour covers approximately 4.0 - 5.0 miles of walking with an uphill stretch). *(We won't be going to these dining spots.)* Afterwards there are a couple of interesting dining spots at Divisadero and California Sts., *Patisserie & Dynasty Dumpling.* Both are good options for lunch. **But sometimes it's fun to try something different, Hinodeya Ramen Bar at 1737 Buchanan St.** I know where to find parking, no worries. So join me afterwards. They also have a location just off Chestnut St. at 3340 Steiner St. This location looks more luxe with nice outdoor seating and more tables. Same menu. The House Ramen or Spinach soup seems like the go to's! ($17.00.) By the way Chestnut St. seems to have a lot of new and unique restaurants if you have a good suggestion that you've actually tried, and recommend, let me know. *What follows applies to previous tours, not this one.* Lots of walking today, about three miles, but mostly level. (On Sundays we'll pass by the **[Swedenborgian Church of San Francisco](https://sfswedenborgian.org/history/)** at the end of our walk. A weekly Sunday tour of this early Arts & Crafts gem is offered at 1:00pm. We'll stop by and take a look. See some of the art there in the photos here.) We're meeting at the intersection of Baker St & Vallejo. Very ample parking on the nearby streets. There are no restrooms until the end of the tour. *\*(Don't be a no-show.)* It's good to give out name tags which I do. This also gives me a way to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile you'll have to be cancelled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom corner of the screen.) *Please ask your guests to join the Meetup.* [Here are several photos, including inside the house at Presidio and Pacific, the house pictured above.](https://www.compass.com/listing/3198-pacific-avenue-san-francisco-ca-94123/1291319997995710705/) *Popular architectural genres in the early development of Presidio Hts.-* At the time of its development around 1905, the **brown shingle, Arts & Crafts style** was popular. Known as the First Bay Traditional or Regional style we'll see this genre in evidence at the beginning of the tour. (Be sure to take a look at the four photos here of a great example of this type of architecture.) Presidio Hts. was an early hot bed (It fizzled out.) of this style, led by the Swedenborgian Church nearby and Its founding pastor, Rev. Joseph Worcester who is credited with building the first Bay Area brown shingle house in Piedmont, in 1876. **1895 the 1910 *Edwardian and Colonial Revival:*** The continued elaboration of ornament and facade shapes reached its height in the early 1890s as the the Victorian era ended. After that there was a gradual move towards simplification and away from excess and toward, order. Eccentricity gave way to strict conventions, quiet lines and understated, quality materials. Money now made understatement its chief method of display. Style was no longer measured in pounds of gingerbread ornament per square foot, but in elegant proportions and an air of conservatism. (Julia Morgan lived nearby at Washington & Divisadero. There are four JM houses on today's tour.)
Architecture, Design & Drinks — July 2026
Sat, Aug 1, 1:00 AMArchitecture, Design & Drinks is a casual monthly gathering for people who work in, around, or are inspired by design. We meet on the last Friday of each month to unwind, trade ideas, and connect. No agenda, no pressure. Whether you’re an architect, designer, creative, or simply design-curious, this is an easy way to expand your circle and have meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting. New faces are always welcome. Grab a drink, join the conversation, and stay as long as you’d like.
Julia Morgan in SF, her Architecture in San Francisco
Wed, Jul 29, 5:30 PM(Photo above JM in Paris, 1900, Cathedral Notre Dame in the background.) Julia Morgan houses and buildings (at least **24** of the 700 commissoins in her life-time are located in SF) are scattered throughout the City. About a third of these are located in Pacific and Presidio Hts. We'll do a combination hike, with a leg on the Presidio side of the Presidio Wall to make it interesting and where we can see two Julia Morgan houses along Pacific Ave as we head over to Presidio Terrace to see a Beau Arts mansion of hers. **\*(Don't be a no-show or your membership will be cancelled.)** It's good to give out name tags which I will do. I fill out the name tags 24 hours before I leave for the tour. This also gives me a way to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile, (only visible to the organizer) you'll be cancelled from this Meetup. (To cancel your RSVP beforehand [please at least 24 hrs. or a no-show is recorded.], look for the, **"Edit Attendance",** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen on a notebook and left bottom on a phone.) Along the way we'll stop to see two of Bernard Maybeck's, finest SF houses. Morgan graduated UC in 1894 with a degree in Civil Engineering, one of her specializations was structural engineering. (This benefited her clients greatly, as was seen after the 06' earthquake in her still standing buildings.) She arrived in Paris in 1896. A few years later it was reported in the San Francisco Call: **Paris, Oct.30,1902** - *Julia Morgan of San Francisco passed the examination with honors at the Architectural section of the School of Fine Arts (Ecole de Beaux Arts, Paris France.* The first woman to do so. Ironically one of the greatest architects in history, was made to wait two years, taking entrance exams before admission. By the end of her 45 yr. career she had received over 700 commissions. On average a new building every six weeks. It was said, "Her rational approach to home design and the public success of her large commissions gave Julia Morgan a solid reputation. It also won her the confidence of her clients. With the hard work, genius, inspiration and true artistic perception to create memorable works. Over the course of her career, Morgan designed nearly one hundred buildings across California and the nation for women’s organizations. Her commissions included social and civic clubs for women; academic, residential, and recreational buildings; primary schools; orphanages; hospitals, sanitariums,and nursing residences. She also designed more than thirty YWCA buildings, including those in San Francisco and Berkeley. In fact when JM bought her own house at Washington & Divisadero in SF in 1925, she bought a pair of houses there. To read more about the many Julia Morgan public buildings, such as the Hearst Castle etc. go to wikipedia. She was California's most prolific architect. The first woman to receive the American Institute of Architects highest award, the AIA Gold Medal, awarded posthumously in 2014. The three projects that immediately solidified her future career as a great architect, engineer and fully capable project/construction manager were the rebuilding of the new Fairmount Hotel after its semi-destruction following the earthquake. The design, engineering and building of the beautiful Bell Tower at Mills College and Carnegie Library there, both of which survived the earthquake without a crack. And the completion on time and within budget of the construction of the Greek Theater at UC for John Gayland Howard, campus architect. Option for lunch afterward. Here are some links if you would like to help with Meetup expenses. [Here is a Venmo link.](https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3262702482882560580&created=1757371525), for my account. Here is my Paypal account. '[herrmann48@comcast.net'](http://herrmann48@comcast.net'/) *Or use the Donation feature above.*
Victorians in Pacific Hts.-SF Tour-Alta Plaza Park to Lafayette Park
Sun, Aug 9, 5:30 PM**\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded. *Paraphrasing William Faulkner from Requiem for a Nun, "The past isn't gone , it's not even past."* At least it looks that way in parts of Pacific Heights. There is available free **parking** around the neighborhood, be prepared to drive around a little bit, but it is early morning and there are no restrictions on weekends. (Don't park by a meter like those on Fillmore.) Restrooms are located at the top of Alta Plaza Park behind the kid's playground. About 2/3s of the way through the tour we'll stop for a break atop Lafayette Park. For restrooms and views and describe the surrounding houses and the saga of Samuel Holladay and his mansion, questionably located atop Lafayette Park. *(Afterwards one of my go to's for brunch is La Mediterranean Cafe at Sacramento and Fillmore. Great food, drinks and service in a cute little iconic SF restaurant. Also Mayflower Market has great picnic items to go, to take over to Alta Plaza.)* Pacific Heights is one of the most affluent neighborhoods in San Francisco. This tour highlights the Victorian architecture, and the architects, builders and people who owned and built, occupied and maintained these grand properties. About 30 of which will be on our tour with a few sentences of information about each property. The walking tour is 2.5-3.5 miles. With some typical SF hills for short distances. **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* 1. Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). 2. Italianate with slanted bay windows. 3. San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall more elaborate decoration. 4. Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable 5. Queen Anne Row House"Cottage", 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moon-gate entry. * Features & "Gingerbread" * Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") * Fish scale&Diamond shingles- * Towers & Witch's Cap- * Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- * Carvings of grotesque faces- * Sunbursts- often painted gold color, half or full. * Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) * Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- We'll see clusters of Victorian homes systematically built for the average working person by a development company, "The Real Estate Assoc." THEA, in business from 1870 to 1880. Not quite magnificent but many still standing. *Periods* **1860 - 1870s *Italianate*:** Buildings were vertical in emphasis with rounded classical detail. Earliest had flat windows, with false roof fronts. **1880s *Stick Style* (also called East Lake):** Squared off bay windows appear. **Late 1880s and 1890s *Queen Anne*** : Gingerbread would be applied to both the Stick and Queen Ann styles in San Francisco. Sloping roofs appear. With gables and towers. *Rooflines in the Queen Anne were irregular, combining the witches hat rooftop on a rounded or octagonal tower*. [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF)
Haight-Ashbury Tour & Golden Gate Park Walk & Band Concert & Lunch
Mon, Sep 7, 5:15 PMPARKING tips! Parking is not a big problem where we are meeting. (No parking restrictions on weekends, but check the signs.) The higher up the hill you go the more available parking. There are three parts to today's tour. We'll do an hour or so of the Haight's Victorians and local history, like where the bands lived, and the counter-culture movement here. There was a Calif.League professional baseball park on Stanyan bet. Haight & Waller in 1890. (Then the Hippies of the 1960s) We'll take a walk down Haight St. to recall the counter-culture movement and hippie days of the 1960/70s. (If you want to take a deep dive into what happened in SF in those days, [click here](https://sfplanning.org/project/citywide-historic-context-statement#completed) and once there, look on the right side under the *Cultural heading* and click, "*Citywide Historic Context Statement for Counter-Culture (1965-1975)*, Third we'll walk into the eastern end of GG Park for a walk and a little touring there. **We'll stop at the Music Concourse Bandshell for lunch.** [The concert starts at 1:00pm and is a good one today.](https://goldengateparkband.org/calendar) Total distance about four miles. When we stop at the Music Concourse band shell for lunch, I always get the clam chowder from Sam's Chowder House food truck. (highly recommended) It always seems most attendees go their separate way from here. There's a lot going on at this location, two museums, Japanese Tea House, SF Botanical Garden, Stowe Lake etc. It's popular to take a tour of the SF Botanical Garden from here and/or you are welcome to head back with me from here after the Concert ends at 2:30pm. (Please don't be a no-show.) It's good to give out name tags which I do. I'll fill out the name tags just before I leave for the tour. This also gives me an opportunity to take attendance. Name tags that are not picked up, are recorded as no-shows. (Be sure to pick up your name tag.) If you get too many no-shows recorded in your personal Meet-up profile, you'll have to be cancelled from this Meetup. Also booking multiple Meetup Events on the same day and time is cause for immediate cancellation. (To cancel your Event RSVP in advance, look for the, **"Edit Attendance"** tab at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.) The Victorians in the Haight are some of the most elaborate in San Francisco. All the neighborhoods in SF have histories that are fun to learn of. What follows goes into the research done for the tour. It may be of interest if you like the details? For a detailed history of about six Victorian houses near the tour, click the link, [(Detailed info 1071 Page St. & 21 Baker St.)](https://archive.org/details/victorianallianc00unse_13/page/6/mode/2up?view=theater) etc. Additionally the Victorian Alliance of SF, archive link, also has two pages of history, each, about the following houses along or near our route: 23 Baker St. 110 Lyon St. 1283 Page St. 1461 Page St. There are ten officially designated city and national landmarks in the area. 301 Lyon, Clunie House 1111 Oak, Phelps House 1153 Oak, Mish House Stanyan Park Hotel The Four Seansons Painted Ladies on Waller St. bet. Masonic & Delmar. Northwest corner at 1410 Haight St. (Location of one of the first head shops. An historic site, designated as a national landmark, now donated and maintained by a non-profit.) **\*Don't be a no-show. *See the Group's no-show policy below.*** Don't be a no-show and lose your membership in the Group. *Attendance is always taken and no-shows recorded.* The Haight, historically called an "electric streetcar suburb", was least affected by the '06 earthquake and fires. And was almost fully built out by then. Imagine what it must have been like when there were row after row, of these new, exuberant creations. Sparkling new in the bright San Francisco sunshine. Baseball was being played at a baseball stadium at Stanyon & Haight, starting in 1885, for the California Baseball League. Roughly over 48,000 Victorians were built in SF, (1860s to 1890s), with about a third remaining. Bay Area entrepreneurship with the wealth of the best building material, old growth **redwood**, a driving force? *The information below is provided if you are interested in more details about SF Victorian architecture.* **Looking at a San Francisco Victorian, what to look for:** *(There are five Styles)* 1. Flat front Italianate- (earliest Victorians). (French 2nd Empire appear) 2. Italianate with slanted bay windows. 3. San Francisco Stick Style (also called East Lake). Simpler square bay windows now used. Overall much more elaborate decoration, ornament and gingerbread used. 4. Queen Anne Tower House&Witches Cap, with angled or rounded bay windows & front gable 5. Queen Anne Row House, 1, 1-1/2 or two stories. Large front gable. Possible moongate entry. Features & "Gingerbread" Type of Entry & Doorway(maybe a rounded or partial Moongate entry)- Decorative Ironwork- Floral Decor-Garlands (one of many types of decorations known as \*"Gingerbread") Fish scale&Diamond shingles- Towers & Witch's Cap- Stained Glass or Beveled Glass- Carvings of grotesque faces- Sunbursts- often painted gold, half or full. Gables (Queen Anne's) in a variety of material- (mainly redwood) Newel Posts and Finials on Tower tops and roof peaks- [If you would like a scholarly and detailed explanation with photos, click.](https://sfplanning.org/sites/default/files/documents/preserv/bulletins/HistPres_Bulletin_18.PDF)
Julia Morgan in Piedmont & Best Lunch in Oakland**
Sat, Jul 25, 5:30 PMJulia Morgan designed a total of approximately 31 buildings in Oakland and 19 in Piedmont. Houses, school buildings, commercial buildings, churches, a YWCA, and funerary architecture as well. We'll see about a third of these on our tour which will center around Piedmont. Walking distance will be about three or four miles. Wear sturdy footwear, bring water, sunscreen up and protect by wearing a hat. And learn about Julia Morgan by starting with Wikipedia. (I'm working on finding a great, everyday, locals' favorite restaurant, not too far from the tour. If you have one of your own, please let me know, as an option for lunch.) **\*\***[ Here's a nearby, YouTube channel, restaurant recommendation. ](https://youtu.be/3HSgR915zSY?t=25) *They say it's the best in Oakland.*
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