About Union Square San Francisco

First dedicated in 1850 by San Francisco Mayor John Geary, this tourist spot got its name from the pro-Union rallies before the start of the Civil War. Union Square is one of the largest shopping districts in the United States with big name department stores, designer boutiques, theaters, art galleries, restaurants, cafes, hair salons and hotels. The area also has the city's famous cable cars, monuments and public art. The 97-foot tall Dewey Memorial featuring a female statue depicting Victory is the centerpiece of the square and was erected in 1903 to commemorate Admiral George Dewey's triumph during the Battle of Manila in the Spanish American War.