On the Marina
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.