Built in 1856, the Great Magneta Clock made an arduous steamer trip from Europe around Cape Horn in 1907, and was officially dedicated to The Westin St. Francis on November 30, 1907. This Viennese timepiece was the first master clock introduced to the West, and was installed in its place of honor in the grand lobby of The Westin St. Francis following the hotel’s recovery from The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. For many years, the clock served as the master timepiece, controlling all the other clocks in the hotel. It quickly became a popular meeting place, especially during World War II when men in uniform would meet their girlfriends for a final rendezvous before shipping out to sea. More than a century later, it is still a special meeting place for families, friends, lovers and international adventurers