Meet the man who leads tours of San Francisco City Hall

Greg Bayol, who retired from the state transportation department, leads tours at San Francisco City Hall every Friday morning. He discusses the building's intricate design, such as the real Manchurian oak paneling and bronze artichoke doorknobs, which symbolize the city's hopes. Bayol recalls the celebration surrounding the opening of same-sex marriages in 2004, affirming the building's importance to San Francisco's identity. The grand staircase, redesigned for a full view upon entrance, leads to a rotunda that towers 19 feet above the U. S.

Capitol. The rotunda features dahlias, the city's flower, representing its ties to Mexico and Central America. After renovations revealed skylights covered for decades, light now floods the building, though pigeons returned, prompting the city to introduce peregrine falcons. Bayol also volunteers at the California Academy of Sciences, where he finds visitor inquiries more engaging. Despite the frequent question about restrooms at City Hall, he cherishes the site's historical significance and beauty.