Tours of the Tales

Huntington Park

Huntington Park, the square formed by Sacramento, Taylor, California, and Cushman streets

Prior to entering Grace Cathedral, Mary Ann and Burke entered Huntington Park and sat on a bench near the Fountain of the Tortoises where they had a short chat before entering the Cathedral.  

 “‘Why do I feel so creepy, Burke?’

 “He turned and smiled at her.  ‘Because your heritage is the Little Brown Church in the Dell.’  He rose suddenly, taking her with him.  ‘C’mon, you heathen.  Let’s go get religion.’”

(More Tales of the City/28 Barbary Lane, p, 469)

In the “More Tales of the City” miniseries, this scene was filmed with Mary Ann and Burke sitting on the edge of the fountain.  

The Tales stories return to Huntington Park in Further Tales of the City.  After calling the City’s Parks and Recreation about losing her dog, Vuitton, in Golden Gate Park, Prue Giroux took a ten-minute walk through the park to calm her nerves.

The creation of Huntington Park was a direct result of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.  In 1872, David Colton, a railroad attorney, built an elaborate mansion near the highest point of Nob Hill.  Eight years later he died.  His widow sold the mansion to Collis Huntington – one of the era’s great railroad robber baron.  He died eight years later.  Huntington’s widow continued to live in the mansion until it was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire.  In 1915, Mrs.  Huntington donated the land to the City of San Francisco to remain forever as a park for all of San Francisco to enjoy.

The Fountain of the Tortoises, where Mary Ann and Burke sat before continuing on to Grace Cathedral, is the park’s focal point.  The fountain is a replica of the Fontana delle Tartarughe in Rome, Italy.