Arts and Architecture | Postcards Golden Gate International Exposition

The Elephant Towers
The Elephant Towers flanked the western gate. The iconic towers, depicting several chunky elephants with howdahs on their backs, were designed by 26-year-old Donald Macky, who studied at the California School of Fine Arts.

Left: photography by Gabriel Moulin
Below: publisher unknown

ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE

TOWERS

Portals of the Pacific
The Tower of the Sun and the Elephant Towers created an impressive entrance to the Exposition.

Published by H.S. Crocker

Arts

Towers

Courts

Fountains

Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here! Postcards from the Golden Gate International Exposition is presented by the Treasure Island Museum.

Website by: www.designwestgraphics.com

WISH YOU WERE HERE

The Tower of the Sun
The Tower of the Sun was the dominating feature of Treasure Island. The 400 foot high Tower and the Court of Honor in which it stood were designed by Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed Coit Tower and San Francisco’s City Hall. The spire was topped with O. C. Malmquist’s 22-foot gilded Phoenix, which symbolizes San Francisco’s recovery from multiple fires during its early days.

Top row: Published by Stanley A. Piltz
Bottom row: Publisher unknown; Published by Frank Patterson; Sepia etching artwork by Russell Wilson

Tower of the Sun Carillon
The Tower of the Sun housed a 44-bell carillon.

Publisher unknown

The Arch of Triumph
The Arch of Triumph leading eastward from the Court of Reflections to the Court of Flowers was designed by architect L. P. Hobart. Sculptures of stylized eagles over each side of the arch were created by Jacques Schnier. The arch stood 105 feet tall, with a clearance of 90 feet.

From the collection of Lewis Baer, photographed and published by Frank Patterson.