San Francisco Civic Center

San Francisco features the USA's most architecturally unified Civic Center. The devastating 1906 earthquake and fire meant the city had to rebuild, and it did, choosing a Beaux Arts theme.

Come along on a thematic tour exploring the significance of culture and public policy in feeding a population. On this hour and a half walk we'll start at United Nations Plaza (bet you didn't know the UN came into existence in San Francisco!), then recount the story of cities and food as we amble through a farmers market, identify the statues and named buildings ringing Civic Center Plaza, and conclude by picnicking with our farmers market purchases near City Hall.

The statues and named buildings carry such stories as of liberation (Simon Bolivar), of colonization (the Pioneer Monument), while the Earl Warren Federal Office Building speaks of the USA's racially-sculpted history. There's plenty more, and all of it lends itself to  addressing the food and dignity question, "Whose land is this?"

Your guide, David, a high school history teacher, invites you to feed body and mind, giving names and stories to the granite forms of Civic Center.