Coit Memorial Tower San Francisco 4 Editorial Image

Usually called just Coit Tower, officially it is Coit Memorial Tower as it was paid for by a bequest left by Lillie Hitchcock Coit.Early San Francisco had many wooden buildings, and no professional fire department, only neighborhood, volunteer fire brigades who would heroically put out the fires. It was these men and their courage that intrigued Lillie, from a very young age. After helping them herself at one time, they then allowed her to ride along in their truck.Because of her connection to the fire department, it has been said the top of the Tower resembles the nozzle on the fire hose. That is more coincidental then intensional.