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Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

sutrotower.org

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Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#11

Post by spike021 »

ryguytilidie wrote: post #8

I always say that Sutro tower is way more "San Francisco" than Coit Tower. Coit Tower is pretty much just a tourist destination whereas every time I'm traveling and get back to SF, I feel at home when I see that big antenna.

Coit tower looks a lot blander to me. It just isn't distinctive and mostly blends in with its surroundings. Whereas Sutro has a nice interesting design, is high enough that it can poke out from under Karl the Fog, and it can be seen from a great radius around SF. I've also seen it from the East Bay.

Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#12

Post by jmspring »

simoncion wrote: post #6
archagon wrote: post #2

It's too bad the tower isn't open to the public. I bet the views from the top are incredible. (As evidenced: http://kiehart.tumblr.com/post/74847934277/up-above-it-all-s... )

Are you aware of any active microwave communication towers [0] that are open to the public? [0] This means structures whose primary purpose to to act as a communication tower, rather than a tourist attraction (Eiffel Tower) or office building (er, every tall office building ever?).

In the back country, especially in the sierras, you can get pretty close to some microwave and other communication relay stations. Not open to the public, but you can nearly walk right up to them.

Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#13

Post by jacobwcarlson »

Cr3w wrote: post #4

Sorry, but I don't like it. I think it looks ugly and you can see it practically from everywhere. I never liked it...

> you can see it practically from everywhere

That's why a lot of people, myself included, like it. It's always there if you live here (unless Karl's swallowed it again), but doesn't feature on postcards or travel brochures. We love our tourists, but it's nice for citizens to have an icon of their own that people who don't live here don't really get or even notice.

Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#14

Post by bhc3 »

I live not too far from Sutro Tower. One use for it: fog indicator. I used to commute from Pleasanton back into SF. I'd always take a look at Sutro Tower. If it was shrouded in fog, I knew my house would be too. If it was sunny on Sutro, I knew I'd see blue sky at my house as well.

Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#15

Post by meddlepal »

When I visited San Francisco for the first time for JavaOne last year the Sutro was the last landmark I saw and finally got a glimpse of it on the highway back to the airport. It's a cool structure and I definitely felt it was iconic "San Francisco" after the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, Transmerica Pyramid and Coit Tower.

Re: Sutro Tower: San Francisco's least appreciated landmark

#20

Post by orthecreedence »

djcapelis wrote: post #19

Sutro Tower is unappreciated? Not among my friend group. I have friends who have suggested Sutro Tower would make a great tattoo.

Yeah, I live right by the thing and love staring it when the fog is rolling over it. Would not call it unappreciated.
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