View from Marina: Extreme right, Berkeley and Oakland; in center of bay,
Alcatraz Island, like a white citadel; left of Alcatraz, Angel Island;
left of Angel Island, Belvedere; left, Marin County, including Sausalito
and Mount Tamalpais, with military reservation facing the Golden Gate
and looking across to the large military reservation, Presidio.
Column of Progress, celebrating the Progress of Man. Preliminary sketch
by Calder. W. Symmes Richardson, architect. Reliefs at base, by Isidore
Konti, of New York. Surmounting statue, by Hermon A. MacNeil, of New
York.
Tablets on four sides of base, in commemoration of aerial advancement.
To the west, the scientific phase, a tribute to Langley, who first
solved the problem of flying. To the north, aerial achievement. To the
east, aerial organization. To the south, history of flying.
Frieze at base on four sides celebrates beginning of progress. On south
front, two women holding palm branches, symbol of victory, call mankind
to achievement.
Wreath at base of column, reward of achievement.
Top of pedestal, ornamental garland, with figure of Sphinx at corners.
Spiral, winding around column, with ships in full sail, suggestive of
upward progress of world. Similar spiral on Column of Trajan and Column
of Marcus Aurelius, in Rome.
Circular frieze sustaining main group at top, "The Burden Bearers," by
MacNeil.
Group on top, "The Adventurous Bowman," the Superman, representing
moment of attainment. Three figures, the dominating male, with the male
supporter steadying his arm, and the devoted woman ready to crown him
with laurel.
First use of this kind of column for an idealistic conception.
Prototypes of this column, like Trajan's Column, but to celebrate some
warlike figure or feat.
Best place to view column, from north, near California Building.
Esplanade, straight northern wall, broken by Court of Four Seasons,
Court of the Universe, and Court of the Ages. Northern facades of all
four buildings, ornate doors in duplicate of Spanish plateresque
doorways.
Main doorways, rich detail. Statues in niches, by Allen Newman, of New
York. Center, "Conquistador," sixteenth century Spanish adventurer.
Figure on either side in duplicate, Newman's "Pirate," who preyed on
shore commerce of South America. Humorous touch in bowlegs.
Magnificent view from Marina of San Francisco back of the Tower Of
Jewels. Like a painting by Cezanne.