San Francisco The City and County of San Francisco is the fourteenth-largest in the United States. It is located on the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and is the focal point of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is the second most densely populated major American city, after New York. The city is famous for its history in progressive social movements.    Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco has a unique mix of physical characteristics, including its months-long episodes of fog, its steep rolling hills, its eclectic mix of architecture (including Victorian style houses and modern highrises), and its being bordered on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. Famous hallmarks and landmarks include the San Francisco cable cars, the Transamerica Pyramid, the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. Palace of Fine Arts Golden Gate Bridge in Fog Golden Gate Park The Peace Pagoda in Japantown, San Francisco is located between Post and Geary Streets at Buchanan. Peace Pagoda in Japantown Alcatraz Island is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California. It was formerly used as a military stockade and later as a maximum security prison. Today, the island is a historic site supervised by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride from Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Alcatraz Island The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest and most recognizable skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline. Transamerica Pyramid Tower Palace of the Legion of Honor San Francisco in the rain San Francisco skyline at night