Guardians of the Gate

The Guardians of the Gate is a bronze sculpture located near the entrance of Pier 39. Created by artist Miles Metzger in 1991, it depicts a family of three sea lions, including a nuzzling male and female with their pup. The piece serves as a permanent, artistic homage to the actual sea lions that have famously claimed the nearby docks as their own. Metzger intentionally designed the sculpture to be interactive, encouraging visitors to sit on the bronze figures to capture a photograph.