The Gold Bar

Not long after the Gold Bar Distillery opened in September 2023 on San Francisco’s Treasure Island, I was looking for a subject for a photo class I was taking. I had wandered all over the island, captivated by the Art Moderne leftovers from the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, blocky remnants of Navy housing, the Fire Department’s training school, and the tantalizing new ventures that were springing up on the island. Then I walked into the Administration Building and turned to the right. Framed by lush red draperies, the Gold Bar shimmered and gleamed, noir-ish and inviting. I was seduced.

Welcomed by bar manager Craig Truesdell, I photographed the bar many times over the next few weeks. Each visit was a surprise: The changing fall light and the bar’s many reflective surfaces created endless “stage sets” for me to capture. The patrons were enthusiastic and encouraging participants. To them and anyone who happens upon the delightful Gold Bar, I gratefully offer this visual tribute.

Please click on an image to see larger versions in a slideshow. Each photo is available in an edition of 10, and you can order a book containing all of them on Blurb.com by searching the bookstore for “The Gold Bar.” (View a preview of the book.)