'Treasure Island' a Blank Canvas for Public Art
An undeveloped island in San Francisco Bay will soon offer world-class public art, not to mention an unbeatable view.
At first, there was nothing but open water. Then silt, dredged from the Sacramento River, was dumped into San Francisco Bay and flattened to create a 400-acre island for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. Because the Sacramento River, which flows into the bay, begins in the heart of gold country, some thought the new island might be made of gold. So they wishfully named it Treasure Island.
Traces of harmless radioactive materials remained from a brief chapter in the island’screator and Bay Area resident George Lucas. But Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made a more persuasive case for his city. Again, the promise of gold was denied.
