Enchanted Castle hides underground water-maze in San Francisco

Kirsten Dirksen16 minutes read

A 150-year-old castle in San Francisco, originally a brewery, now stands as a tower with thick walls surviving an earthquake, showcasing a historical piece of the city's past. The castle's owners, the Burnell brothers, had brewing experience in England, and the structure includes a system for hoisting barley to brew beer, set in a serene location with natural rock formations and hidden rooms.

Insights

  • The castle in San Francisco, originally a brewery owned by John Burnell, showcases meticulous craftsmanship with walls carved by hand and a system for brewing beer, highlighting its historical significance and unique construction process.
  • Despite being reduced to a tower with a ladder, the castle's survival of the 1906 earthquake with minimal damage underscores the robustness of its 12 to 18-inch thick walls and the superior quality of its natural spring water, emphasizing its historical resilience and architectural integrity.

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Recent questions

  • What is the history of the castle in San Francisco?

    The castle was originally a brewery owned by John Bernell in the 1800s. It was built with walls 12 to 18 inches thick, surviving the 1906 earthquake with minimal damage. The Burnell brothers, who had brewing experience in England, owned the castle. The structure includes a system for hoisting barley for brewing beer and was carved by hand using hand picks and wheelbarrows over years.

  • How was the castle in San Francisco constructed?

    The castle's walls were carved by hand using hand picks and wheelbarrows, taking years to complete. The structure includes a system for hoisting barley for brewing beer. The walls are 12 to 18 inches thick and survived the 1906 earthquake with minimal damage, showcasing the meticulous construction process.

  • What is the significance of the castle's natural spring water?

    The castle's natural spring water was crucial for brewing beer and was of superior quality. A filtration system can be set up to bottle water from a source that backwashes into it, with the water being around 15 ft deep. This water source showcases a historical piece of San Francisco's past and the careful construction of the castle.

  • Who were the owners of the castle in San Francisco?

    The castle's owners were the Burnell brothers, who had brewing experience in England before opening the brewery in San Francisco. The castle was originally a brewery owned by John Bernell in the 1800s, highlighting the brewing history of the owners.

  • What is the current state of the castle in San Francisco?

    The castle is now just a tower with a ladder to climb up, located in a serene and secure place with natural rock formations and hidden rooms. The castle's location was previously a shipyard, and it is now a historical landmark that showcases the careful construction and survival of the structure through the years.

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Summary

00:00

"Medieval castle in San Francisco with history"

  • The castle is now just a tower with a ladder to climb up.
  • Castles are romanticized due to associations with dragons, knights, and strongholds.
  • A 150-year-old medieval-style castle exists in San Francisco.
  • The castle was originally a brewery in the 1800s owned by John Bernell.
  • The castle's walls are 12 to 18 inches thick and survived the 1906 earthquake with minimal damage.
  • The castle's natural spring water was crucial for brewing beer and was of superior quality.
  • The castle's walls were carved by hand using hand picks and wheelbarrows, taking years to complete.
  • The castle's owners, the Burnell brothers, had brewing experience in England before opening the brewery.
  • The castle's structure includes a system for hoisting barley for brewing beer.
  • The castle's location was previously a shipyard and is now a serene and secure place with natural rock formations and hidden rooms.

19:42

Historical water filtration system in San Francisco

  • A filtration system can be set up to bottle water from a source that backwashes into it, with the water being around 15 ft deep, showcasing a historical piece of San Francisco's past with a carefully constructed structure that took time to build.
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