Pillars for Lombard Street Gates - Entrance to Presidio of San Francisco, (sculpture).

Pillars for Lombard Street Gates - Entrance to Presidio of San Francisco, (sculpture).

Whittemore, J. B., architect.

Pillars for Lombard Street Gates - Entrance to Presidio of San Francisco, (sculpture).

Commissioned 1895. Installed 1896-1897.

Relief: sandstone; Pillar: stone.

4 pillars. Tall pillars: each approx. 13 x 3 x 3 ft.; Short pillars: each approx. 10 x 2.5 x 2.5 ft.

(On north side of tall north pillar:) MDCCLXXVIII (On shields on tall pillars:) Presidio/San Francisco/Founded 1776 unsigned

Four rough-hewn stone pillars mark a gateway. The upper third of each side of each pillar bears a sandstone bas-relief. Two tall pillars flank a road; two short pillars flank the inside of the sidewalk gate along the road. The short pillar on the north side of the street features a relief of a castle on its north face; crossed sabers on its east face; crossed cannon on its south face; and crossed rifles on its west face. The tall pillar on the north side features draped flags with body armor on its north face; an eagle with a shield on its east face; a winged female figure holding a wreath on its south face; and draped flags with drum and bugle on its west face. The tall pillar on the south side features draped flags with bugle and drum on its south face; draped flags with body armor on its west face; an eagle with a shield on its east face; and a winged female figure holding a wreath on its north face. The short pillar on the south side features crossed cannon of the artillery on the south face; crossed rifles of the infantry on its east face; a castle on its north face; and crossed sabers of the cavalry on its west face. Each of the tall pillars also has a shield painted red, white and blue with stars and stripes mounted on its front side.

Emblem -- Military Insignia

Animal -- Bird -- Eagle

Figure female -- Full length

Object -- Other -- Flag

Outdoor Sculpture -- California -- San Francisco

Administered by United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Washington, District of Columbia

Administered by Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Fort Mason, Building 201, San Francisco, California 94123

Located Presidio of San Francisco, Lombard Street entrance, San Francisco, California

Formerly administered by United States Department of the Army, Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, California

The pillars and gates were designed by Architect J. B. Whittemore and were part of the original enclosure built in 1896 around the Presidio. The shields mounted to the tall pillars were installed prior to the end of World War II. Until 1995, the sculpture was under the administration of the United States Army. The pillars are similar to those found at the Arguello Street gates of the Presidio (see CA001712).

Save Outdoor Sculpture, California, San Francisco survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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