Click on the Treasure Island Bench image to enlarge

Treasure Island Bench

Treasure Island Bench is a photograph that was taken on an early morning sunrise excursion to Treasure Island. The clearness of the light that morning made the color and compositional characteristic of Treasure Island Bench just call out to me for a photograph.

The original goal of the morning was to photograph the Bay Bridge from a view near the top of Yerba Buena Island. The lights of the city in the background, the lights of the cars crossing the bridge during the morning commute and the light of dawn breaking was the first goal of the day to photograph.

With that original goal accomplished, Treasure Island was explored to continue taking advantage of the beautiful and clear light that was in the sky that morning.

Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay is an interesting place. It has a fascinating history. Treasure Island Bench I am sure is a part of the interesting history.

Treasure Island was created in 1936 and 1937, from fill dredged from the bay for the Golden Gate International Exposition. The island was named Treasure Island after the novel written by Robert Louis Stevenson, a former resident of San Francisco. Treasure Island is part of the City and County of San Francisco whose territory extends far into the San Francisco Bay. Treasure Island was planned for and used as an airport for Pan American World Airways flying boats. The 1939–40 World’s Fair of the Golden Gate International Exposition was held on the island. During World War II, Treasure Island became part of the Treasure Island Naval Base. The island served largely as an electronics and radio communications training school and as the major Navy departure point for sailors in the Pacific.

The island has a raised walkway that goes around most of the island. Treasure Island Bench is part of this raised walkway that provides tremendous views of the area.

The City and County of San Francisco is still deciding what to do with this unique island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. I hope that places such as the Treasure Island Bench will always be available for people to appreciate this unique island in the bay.