Pioneer Monument

The Pioneer Monument was funded by the eccentric millionaire James Lick, who left one hundred thousand dollars in his will to commemorate the early history of California. Lick made his fortune in piano building and San Francisco real estate, but he famously used his wealth to build lasting public tributes to his own vision of the state's development. Dedicated in eighteen ninety-four, the granite and bronze structure was originally installed in front of the old City Hall. It was an enormous, eight hundred ton display that survived the great earthquake and fire of nineteen zero six while the building behind it fell into ruin.