Entry No. 37 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: art

Pier 90 Grain Silos

Built in 1918, this massive 190-foot-tall concrete grain terminal on San Francisco's southern waterfront once stored and loaded barley onto cargo ships. Operations permanently ceased following damage from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, leaving the structure abandoned for decades. In 2014, the towering silos were adorned with 'Bayview Rise,' a giant, illuminated temporary mural that remains a prominent neighborhood landmark.

The move: Take a sunset stroll along the Illinois Street Bridge or Cargo Way to photograph the towering, graffiti-tagged silos and their vibrant, fading mural against the backdrop of the bay.

📍 Before you go The site is fenced off, heavily monitored, and undergoing active demolition of surrounding structures by the Port of San Francisco, making physical entry illegal and highly dangerous.

• 📍 San Francisco
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Pier 90, Cargo Way, San Francisco, CA 94124, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: sfstandard.com · sfport.com

last checked: 2026-07-20