The Palace of the Legion of Honor: San Francisco’s Tribute to Paris

At the terminus of the Lincoln Highway, the first road across America, sits the Palace of the Legion of Honor. Situated on the high cliffs of Lands End above the sea, the fine arts museum was completed in 1924 as a memorial to soldiers who died in World War I. Alma de Bretteville Spreckels, affectionately known to San Franciscans as “Big Alma”  and “The Great Grandmother of San Francisco” was quite a lady about town until her death in 1968. A philanthropist and avid patron of the arts, she charmed her husband, Adolphe Spreckels the sugar magnate whom she lovingly called her “sugar Daddy,” into funding the museum. The beautiful building is a replica of the Palais de la Legion d’Honneur in Paris and houses an impressive art collection that includes works by El Greco, Rubens, Degas, Monet and Rodin. Alma purchased many of the Rodins directly from the artist on her visits to Paris. The museum also presents special exhibits that have included works by O’Keeffe andPicasso as well as Egyptian artifacts. A visit to the Palace of the Legion of Honor is an essential part of the San Francisco Experience.

Photo: onlinereisefuehrer