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There are probably finer, more expensive hotels in San Francisco, but none quite match up to the grandeur of the Fairmont Hotel. Perhaps its location has a lot to do with the appeal - perched high atop the Nob Hill district, the Fairmont maintains a suitable distance from the vastly busier area around Union Square that most of the other exclusive hotels call home. Although now a chain of resorts, the San Francisco Fairmont is the original Fairmont Hotel, and was opened in 1907 - it was in fact under construction during the 1906 Earthquake that levelled much of Nob Hill. (See below for a picture of the 'Fairmount' - it's planned name - just after the 1906 'quake).
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Also occupying a grand spot at the top of Nob Hill is the Mark Hopkins-Intercontinental hotel which was constructed in 1927. Nob Hill is the highest peak in the city, rising to 338 feet (103m) above sea level. It was effectively uninhabitable until the Cable Cars of the California St line reached it 1878 - a line which still passes between the Fairmont and Mark Hopkins today. Once opened the cable car allowed the richest men in San Francisco - amongst them the Central Pacific Railroad barons - to move in and Nob Hill became home to San Francisco's Grand Mansions.
All bar one of these mansions were destroyed in 1906 - along with much of the city - in the great quake and subsequent fire. The one surviving building - originally the home of James C Flood - is opposite the Fairmont Hotel on Mason Street, and is now occupied by the private and exclusive Pacific Union Club (i.e. you or I can't get in!) but shows the sort of grandeur that the early 20th century mega-rich of San Francisco would have been accustomed to!
Click here to book a room at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
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Nob Hill has a feel all to itself in San Francisco. Firstly (unless you've come on the California St. Cable Car) you've probably walked up one of the steepest hills in the city to get to the top. Then there's the relatively low-lying buildings of the Pacific Union Club, and the original Fairmont building, which makes you feel like you're in a much less 'congested' area than you probably just came from. Beyond the Pacific Union Club is a pleasant park - Huntington Park - which sits between Sacramento, Taylor and California streets.
Huntington Park occupies the site of one of the original Grand Mansions - originally home to General David D. Colton, and later to Collis P. Huntington. The land was donated to the city in 1915 by Mrs Huntington, the house having been destroyed in 1906. Further west, on the other side of Taylor, you'll find the other significant Nob Hill building - the Episcopal Grace Cathedral. Constructed in the Gothic style (and apparently inspired by the Notre Dame in Paris) it looks somewhat older than it really is. Construction started in 1928, but was only completed in 1964!
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Other Images of Fairmont Hotel & Nob Hill....
(Just click on the image for a full-size version) |
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