Frank Cresci Plaza

Frank Cresci Plaza serves as a gateway to the working history of the waterfront. It was dedicated in 2016 to honor Frank Cresci, a prominent local figure who spent decades operating a famous crab stand at Fisherman's Wharf. Cresci was a well-known presence on the docks, recognized by locals and tourists alike for his connection to the city's maritime traditions and his dedication to the labor movement as a longtime leader within the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The plaza acts as a permanent home for a massive granite statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, crafted by the renowned Italian sculptor Beniamino Bufano. Carved in Paris between 1926 and 1930, this twenty-ton monolith sat in a warehouse for nearly three decades before finally finding its way to San Francisco in 1955. After being moved between several different locations across the city, it was installed here in 1962 to provide a lasting landmark for the community. The plaza itself sits on the grounds of the San Francisco Bay Area Longshoremen's Memorial Association, a building that has supported the daily needs of local dockworkers for generations.