Pioneer Monument

The Pioneer Monument is a memorial in San Francisco's Civic Center featuring a central granite column surrounded by bronze sculptures and relief plaques. The structure stands approximately 47 feet tall and sits near the Asian Art Museum.

The monument was financed by James Lick in 1876 and survived the major earthquake of 1906 that destroyed many nearby buildings. Its survival documents the value placed on honoring California's pioneer heritage during that critical period.

The monument displays Minerva and depicts scenes of daily life including trade, farming, and the arrival of settlers in California through its bronze figures. These sculptures tell stories about the different activities that shaped the region.

The monument sits between Hyde and Larkin Streets and is easily reached from the public library plaza area. It stands in an open setting where you can view it from all angles around the column.

The monument includes engraved medallion portraits of important California figures that visitors often overlook. These portraits show faces of people who played roles in founding and developing the state.