Telegraph Hill properties today hardly reflect the neighborhood's working-class roots. It is one of San Francisco's oldest neighborhoods, and many of its buildings date back to the 1870s. Some even date back to the 1850s. The gradual transformation into an affluent neighborhood did not intensify until after World War II.

Telegraph Hill properties consist mainly of cozy worker cottages from before the 1906 earthquake, as the area was largely spared from the earthquake and ensuing fire. There are also lush public gardens, and modernist apartment buildings. The neighborhood's proximity to the water made it a prime location for waterfront workers to be close to their jobs.

During the 1930s, WPA-sponsored building of concrete retaining walls, sidewalks, and streetlights opened up this isolated neighborhood. Affluent city dwellers began to drive up the hills, which were previously inaccessible. They noticed the romantic scenery and dramatic views, and rising rents and real estate prices forced many of the Irish and Italian immigrants out of the area. Luckily, the newcomers have preserved the neighborhood in their own ways.

Famous Telegraph Hill Properties

One of the most famous Telegraph Hill properties is Coit Tower. It is a monument to San Francisco's volunteer firefighters and an easily recognizable icon of San Francisco's geography. Lillie Hitchcock Coit, an honorary member of the San Francisco Fire department, donated money for the project, and it was built and dedicated in 1933.