Red-brick path peaks at Lone Mountain apex
They call the University of San Francisco “the Hilltop.” But you don’t see the hilltop of the Hilltop unless you climb the stairs to the old Lone Mountain College on the north side of Turk Boulevard, opposite Chabot Terrace.
The promontory campus was originally called the San Francisco College for Women and run by the Religious of the Sacred Heart. It went coed as Lone Mountain College before folding in the late ’70s. USF bought the land for $5.8 million and got the best piece of campus architecture in the city, the Spanish Gothic building topped by an iron cross, erected by the sisters in 1932.
The curving staircase to get there is modeled after the Spanish Steps in Rome. Halfway up is the Alfred P. Alessandri Fountain, in memory of a member of the Class of ’50 fondly known as Mr. USF. In his honor, water spurts out of a gilded lion’s head.
After 142 steps, there is a garden with benches. The southward view runs over the spires atop St. Ignatius Church, which had its cornerstone laid 100 years ago last month, with the ugly TV tower of Twin Peaks beyond it.
Once you’ve hit the top of the steps, cross the driveway and pass the rose garden to the old campus building, called Lone Mountain Main. If it is unlocked, it is worth a few more steps inside to look back at the view framed by the leaded glass above the front door.
Standing here you’ll quickly understand why the offices of the USF president, provost and chancellor have all migrated from the lower campus up to Lone Mountain.