Reporters take closer look at Golden Gate City

What comes to mind when we say, “San Francisco”? Perhaps it’s the Golden Gate Bridge, or Chinatown, or Fisherman’s Wharf. Perhaps it’s Alcatraz or Union Square. But the city has more to offer than just these popular locations. And being adventurous reporters, we decided to explore some lesser known, yet incredibly quirky destinations for ourselves.

Before going anywhere, we did some online research and found that in the Presidio, an area located just south of the Golden Gate Bridge,  there exists a fountain built in honor of the greatest Jedi Master: Yoda. Though we expected a striking monument that captured all his 900 years of glory, we found ourselves asking a security guard to enter the parking lot of some private office buildings.  

As we walked inside the buildings, there he was, sitting inside a courtyard in the complex, an unfitting place for such a legendary creature. Yoda was life-size, holding his wooden walking stick, reigning over the bounty of coins that was scattered at his feet, probably by people hoping to gain the favor of the Force.

We later found out we had entered unknowingly into the Letterman Digital Arts Center (LDAC), the headquarters of Lucasfilm in San Francisco. The studio is popularly known for its creation of the Star Wars series and the Indiana Jones franchise.  It’s also one of the leading production sites for computer animation and special effects.

The lobby, which is home to many other Star Wars characters, is open to visitors on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life-size statues of Darth Vader, Boba Fett and a stormtrooper tower over visitors while mini-figurines of C3PO, R2D2 and Darth Maul sit on a bookshelf. Displayed in a glass case is Luke Skywalker’s original lightsaber for all to admire.

Nestled inside the peaceful Presidio National Park, the LDAC is a 23-acre campus that was once a military base. It also boasts an area of lush grass with statues honoring the pioneers of modern movie-making.

Eadweard James Muybridge, known as the Father of the Cinema and the inventor of the motion-picture technique, poses with his zoopraxiscope, a device that displays pictures in rapid succession. Along with Muybridge stands the inventor of the television, Philo Farnsworth, holding his own invention of the image dissector in one hand and a roll of patents in the other.

After thoroughly enjoying Lucasfilm’s campus, we ventured westward towards Lands End, where we found an antique building, housing the Camera Obscura and Holograph Collection.

Built in 1946 by Floyd Jennings, this compact light blue museum is actually a giant camera that constantly reflects a live, 360-degree image of Ocean Beach. There is a $3 general admission fee, and a $2 fee for seniors 65 years or older and children 12 years or younger.

The design of the wooden hut is based on a drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci and is the only remaining structure left of the world famous Playland, a seaside amusement park that closed in 1972. There is a rotating mirror on the top of the building that continuously captures a magnified image of the beach and reflects it onto a blank bowl-shaped plate inside.

“The reason they built this was to bring people to the area because this was the earliest form of photography; there was nothing else. This was it,” ticket seller Robert Tachetto said.

The museum also boasts colorful holograms of everything from butterflies to creepy hands mounted on the walls. As we moved from side to side, the hologram of a man changed expressions and the hand disappeared and reappeared, a both disturbing and mesmerizing display. The interior was dimmed so viewers could get optimal viewing of the holographs and of the plate.  

We were at first uncertain that our visit had paid off, but after understanding how the camera worked and observing the holograms, we concluded that our time there was well-spent and left satisfied with discovering this unique treasure.   

Our final destination was a short 15-minute drive away from the Camera. Located south of the Golden Gate Park, the 16th Avenue Mosaic Stairs, a colorful series of 163 steps, can actually be quite a workout to climb. But in the midst of painful thighs and sore calves lies a beautiful showcase of imagination and community.

Hundreds upon thousands of tiles depict themes ranging from the galaxy and the stars to aquatic life and the sea, and artistic succulent arrangements line the side of the steps. Over 220 nearby residents supplied painted tiles and 300 helped to put them together, finishing the project in 2004. Looking up from the bottom of the steps, it is evident that the masterpiece embodies the heart and soul of San Francisco, much like all the rest of the sights we visited.

After five hours adventuring, we came to a conclusion: The culture of a city doesn’t rest solely in its major landmarks. On the contrary, San Francisco has surprises in the most remote locations, all of which contribute to the diverse ambience of the city. So the next time you decide to go to San Francisco, remember that the city is more bizarre than you think — the surprises never end, if you are willing to go look for them.