By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | August 18, 2022 | Travel & Recreation, City Life, Culture, Neighborhoods, Community,
Hidden within the lush forest of Mt. Davidson lies a colossal 103-foot cross that immediately greets you when you reach the summit. It is a short and easy, family-friendly hike that yields striking panoramic views of the city, along with the towering cross in the background. Yet, where did this cross come from and how was it constructed? We have all the answers, historical background, and captivating controversy that went into erected this memorial, so that you can come prepared with insightful tidbits the next time you wish to surprise someone up here.
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Like much of San Francisco's neighborhood development, this story begins with prominent local figure Adolph Sutro, as the mountain the cross will eventually stand on was sold from his land in 1911 to his appraiser. The hill was named after Sierra Club charter member George Davidson, and before the famous concrete structure was erected, four predecessors stood in its place, the first being in 1923.
This cross had a height of 40 feet and was made from temporary wood for an Easter service by the Grace Cathedral. Later in 1926, Madie Brown was able to expand the land to a 20-acre park, now known as Mount Davidson Park. Three more wooden crosses were constructed which all later burned down in 1928 and 1931.
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The fifth cross which remains today was promised to be permanent and determined to survived, designed George W. Kelham who also had a masterful architectural hand during the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exhibition. This taller and more concrete cross was a tribute to the early pioneers of California, and, two years and $20,000 later in 1934, was first illuminated with dazzling light decorations by FDR in the White House through telegraph, as requested by Madie.
The cross shined for 50 miles, drawing in over 50,000 spectators to celebrate its construction on the Easter right after its induction. For years following, Easter in San Francisco and the Bay was celebrated through a sunrise service that was even broadcasted. The 1950s and 60s even saw the cross lit every day until 1976 when energy need to be conserved.
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The cross became such a trusted icon that it also had to be included in the famous "Dirty Harry" scene in 1971, seen below.
Rising contention for the cross did build up, and by 1991, the city of San Francisco was sued for owning a religious symbol on public land. This battle continued until 1997, in which the city finally auctioned off land that included where the cross sat. The Council of Armenian American Organizations of Northern California (CAAONC) then bought all of this .38 acres for $26,000, and a bronze plaque was then installed that rededicated the structure to remember the victims of the horrific Armenian genocide in 1915.
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Today the cross is still lit both for the Armenian genocide, and for Easter. The tradition of Sunday Service is also still upheld, now made non-denominational. The cross remains as a powerful reminder of not only our city's storied past and monumental creativity, but also to those lost during an indellibly dark part of global history.
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See also: San Francisco's Most Fun And Scenic Dog Parks
Photography by: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
