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 story
Standing 190 feet tall above the Islais Creek channel along San Francisco's southern waterfront, the Pier 90 Grain Silos are a massive concrete relic from an era when the city's bayfront ran on grease, grain, and heavy diesel. Built in 1918, this terminal was designed to store California barley and pipe it directly into the holds of ocean-going cargo ships. For most of the twentieth century, it was a workhorse of maritime trade, towering over the muddy industrial edge of Cargo Way.
The machinery fell silent on October 17, 1989, when the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the Bay Area and damaged the terminal beyond economic repair. Operations ceased permanently, leaving the mammoth concrete cylinders abandoned to decades of salt air, rust, and graffiti. In 2014, the site got an unexpected second life when artists installed 'Bayview Rise'—a giant, illuminated mural draped over the concrete face that was meant to be temporary but remained as a beacon for the neighborhood.
Today, the Port of San Francisco is overseeing active demolition work on surrounding pier structures, bringing the site's long decay closer to its final act. You can't step inside, but looking up at these looming towers from across the water offers a raw, unvarnished reminder of the waterfront San Francisco spent thirty years trying to pave over.
What it's like
You won't be stepping inside—the Port of San Francisco keeps the perimeter locked behind heavy fencing and active security monitoring, and ongoing demolition work in the area makes physical trespassing both illegal and genuinely dangerous. The play here is an exterior view. Scope out the silos from the Illinois Street Bridge or take a walk along Cargo Way around sunset. The best vantage point is across Islais Creek, where you can watch the fading, ghost-like patterns of the Bayview Rise mural catch the light against layers of street art and weathered concrete. Bring a long lens if you're taking photos.
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.
Pair it with
- Senator Mine — Pair one landmark of Bay Area industrial history with another by heading south to inspect the 1860s cinnabar mine ruins tucked in the hills.
- Holy City Art Glass — Trade giant industrial grain monoliths for a working glassblowing studio operating inside the ruins of a 1919 mountain cult compound.
- The River Run at Brookdale Lodge — Continue the tour of offbeat Northern California structures with a visit to a century-old redwood lodge that has a living creek running through its dining room.
Good to know
Can you go inside the grain silos?
No. The site is fenced off, heavily monitored, and surrounded by active Port of San Francisco demolition projects. Physical entry is illegal and structurally unsafe.
What is the artwork painted on the side?
It is 'Bayview Rise,' a massive illuminated mural installed in 2014 as a temporary public art project that became a long-standing neighborhood landmark.
Why were the silos abandoned?
The facility suffered severe structural damage during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, leading to the permanent closure of all grain operations.
Where is the best place to view the site?
Walk along Cargo Way or stand on the Illinois Street Bridge across Islais Creek for a full line-of-sight shot of the silos.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: sfstandard.com · sfport.com · nobhillgazette.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20