Coit Tower Murals, Telegraph Hill

During the Great Depression, the Public Works Art Project (PWAP), part of the US Federal Goverment New Deal program, led to the creation of a wonderful set of murals in Coit Tower. Bernard Zakheim oversaw the project that included over two dozen artits and muralists. The murals depict aspects of California and San Francisco life during the 1930s and were very controversial at the time, with the inspiration of Diego Rivera is plainly visible in many of them.

Zakheim, himself, painted 'Library'

'Library' (detail) by Bernard Zakheim


'Library' (detail) by Bernard Zakheim

'City Life' by Victor Mikhail Arnautoff is one of the more detailled murals showing many aspects of San Francisco life and city landmarks.

'City Life' (detail) by Victor Mikhail Armautoff


'City Life' (detail) by Victor Mikhail Armautoff


'City Life' (detail) by Victor Mikhail Armautoff

'California Agriculture' by Maxine Albro sits alongside Arnautoff's city view.

partial view of 'California Architecture' by Maxine Albro

Clifford Wight painted four large figures of a cowboy, farmer, steelworker and surveyor, titled, 'Leaders of California Life'.

view of the cowboy from 'Leaders of California Life' by Clifford Wight


partial view of the farmer from 'Leaders of California Life' by Clifford Wight


farmer hand detail from 'Leaders of California Life' by Clifford Wight

Commerce is represented with this mural showing a selection of shops. This image also showshow many of the muralists incorporated the features of the tower into their works. In case, like the 'Library' previously incorporates the tower's narrow windows.

Industry is represented by Ralph Stackpole's 'Industries of California' and John Langley Howard's 'California Industrial Scenes'.

'Industries of California' (detail) by Ralph Stackpole


'California Industrial Scenes' (detail) by John Langley Howard


'California Industrial Scenes' (detail) by John Langley Howard

Our tour, by San Francisco City Guides included the murals on the second floor and in the stairwell that are not otherwise accessible by the general public.

The stairwell features Lucien Labaudt's 'Powell St' showing the scene around the cable car that all visitors to San Francisco will be familiar with.

partial view of 'Powell St' by Lucien Labaudt

At the top of the stairs, Edward Terada depicts 'Sports' and 'Children at Play'.

'Sports' (detail) by Edward Terada


'Sports' (detail) by Edward Terada


partial view of 'Children at Play' by Edward Terada

A small room on the second floor presents Coit Tower's perhaps most enigmatic murals. 'Home Life' by Jane Berlandina offers a starkly different style to the other murals representing domestic life in the 30's.

'Home Life' (detail) by Jane Berlandina


'Home Life' (detail) by Jane Berlandina

References:
Coit Tower & PWAP Murals on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco
Coit Tower and the History of Its Murals
San Francisco’s Coit Tower Murals
The Murals Tour - Coit Tower