The first time I saw the Palace was in a picture, and it was just a picture. I think you have to actually get close to feel it, whatever the "it" is that I'm talking about....My Daughter Jackie wrote a paper for school on the Palace. She will kill me when she finds out I've put it here, but her words describe it so much better than mine, and this was written #1 By a 17 yr. old, and #2 almost 2 years after visiting The Palace. That should tell you what it's like.

My eyes have never gazed upon such man-made beauty until that one summer day. My mother and I were visiting San Francisco, and she wanted to take me to her favorite place...the Palace of Fine Arts. The endless blue sky played as the back drop against the stone structure. The Palace, originally made of paper mache and wood (created for the World’s Fair ) later was transformed into an elaborate stone carving. We walked down the street, and the miniature building turned into a beautiful picture. The Palace’s beauty filled me with pure serenity. The beautifully carved Palace is dropped down on the ocean edge of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop. The Palace includes one large dome in the center and two pillar walls on each side. The grounds are covered with luscious green trees and blooming flowers. A pond of blue water circles the Palace front. The cool water is an attraction to the many birds. The Greek gods and goddesses stare down at the ant-like people passing below them. The Palace is carved from stone with a Greek motif. There are Greek scenes all around the dome’s sides. The somber expressions of the figures are captivating. On the corners of the pillar walls are crying cement figures and below the serene sound of the ocean echoes through the dome’s arches. The ocean’s clean scent flows through the swaying trees. The second my feet entered the dome and I stared above to the magnificent carved ceiling, I felt it. At that moment my body went numb with serenity and peacefulness. Walking out of the dome and around the outside edge of the grounds, my eyes never met the ground. The echo of nature’s sound next to the Palace gave me such a clam feeling. The hustle of the world passing by seems to fade away. The stress of my life was eased by the beauty and silence of the palace. Everyone there was quiet and in awe of the beautiful place. The walls are carved and blooming with soothing emotion. The feeling I had that day can only be expressed as serenity. Today I still carry that feeling of peacefulness with me. The Palace is the most serene place I have ever visited. Nature’s beauty aides the Palace in its tranquillity. For the rest of my life, if I need to retreat, I will go there to relax. If everyone could feel that serenity, the world would be a better place.

Here's one with me and "My" Palace, I'm the little speck in the lower right hand corner :))

Here's one with Jackie & I, and "Our" Palace :)))

A Closer view of the dome pillars

When the "Real" Feeling of Awe overtook me was when I was standing in the dome, and look up. This is what you see, wish I could share what you feel.

Another view of the inside of the dome

Another view of the inside of the dome

All of the above pictures were taken by SFCannon (Bob) and Scanned by him as well, Thanks M*PBK :))