San Francisco, California

Places to Explore

• Site of First California State Fair

  Here in San Francisco, you are at the site of the First California State Fair. This inaugural event took place on October 4, 1854. The California State Agricultural Society sponsored the fair to promote the new state's agricultural industry. It featured exhibitions of livestock, agricultural, and me

• San Francisco Central YMCA

  The San Francisco Central YMCA, located at 220 Golden Gate Avenue, is a historic place in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. This nine-story Renaissance Revival-style building was completed around 1909. U.S. President William Howard Taft presided over its groundbreaking in 1908. Designed by th

• St. Joseph's Church and Complex

  St. Joseph's Church and Complex in San Francisco, California, is a historic place. The parish was founded in 1861 by Archbishop Joseph Alemany. An earlier church on this site was destroyed in the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. The current Romanesque Revival church was constructed in 1913. San Francisco

• The Federal Office Building in San Francisco

  The Federal Office Building, a historic place in San Francisco, California, is located at 50 United Nations Plaza. Designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr., its construction occurred between 1934 and 1936, with the building completed in 1936. This structure is a notable example of the Second Renaissa

• Japanese YWCA, San Francisco

  The Japanese YWCA in San Francisco is a historic place. It was founded in 1912 by Issei, or first-generation, Japanese women. They established an independent chapter due to segregation at the main San Francisco YWCA, providing social services for Japanese women and girls. The building at 1830 Sutte

• Ferry Station Post Office Building

  The Ferry Station Post Office Building, a historic place in San Francisco County, was constructed in 1915. Located at 101 The Embarcadero, this two-story, steel-frame structure was designed in a Mediterranean style by A. A. Pyle of the State Department of Engineering. Its exterior features brick cla

• Calvary Presbyterian Church, San Francisco

  Calvary Presbyterian Church, located in San Francisco's Pacific Heights, has a history dating back to 1854. The church was first founded on July 23, 1854. Its initial building, dedicated in January 1855, stood on Bush Street. This was then the largest Protestant church on the west coast. The congre

• Buon Gusto Sausage Factory

  Here in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood stands the Buon Gusto Sausage Factory, located at 535 Green Street. This building was completed in 1948. It was designed by architect Martin J. Rist for owner Federico Casissa. From 1948 until 1978, three generations of the Casissa family manufacture

• Mills Building and Tower

  The Mills Building and Tower is a significant historic place in San Francisco. The original Mills Building, completed in 1890, was designed by the Chicago firm Burnham and Root. This ten-story structure was one of San Francisco's earliest skyscrapers and the city's first steel-frame building. In 19

• Union Ferry Depot

  The Union Ferry Depot, a historic place in San Francisco, California, opened on July 13, 1898. Architect A. Page Brown designed it in the Beaux-Arts style, featuring a 235-foot clock tower modeled after Seville's Giralda Tower. Before the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges opened in the late 1930s, this d

• The Women's Building, San Francisco

  The building known today as The Women's Building in San Francisco's Mission District has a history spanning over a century. It was originally constructed in 1910 by architect August Reinhold Denke for the German Turnverein Society, and was first known as Mission Turn Hall. In 1935, the Sons and Daug

• Uptown Tenderloin Historic District

  The Uptown Tenderloin Historic District in San Francisco, California, was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 5, 2009. This federal designation recognized the district's significant contributions to both architecture and social history. The district spans appro

• Hobart Building, San Francisco

  The Hobart Building in San Francisco, California, is a historic place erected in 1914. Its historical marker text notes, 'Hobart Building, A San Francisco Landmark, Constructed 1914, Willis Polk, Architect.' This twenty-one-story structure was designed by Willis Polk. It replaced a previous building

• Glen Park BART Station

  The Glen Park BART Station, located in San Francisco County, began service on November 5, 1973. This underground station was designed by architect Ernest Born and the firm Corlett + Spackman. It stands as a significant example of Brutalist architecture, known for its use of exposed concrete. Ernest

• Tubbs Cordage Company Office Building

  The Tubbs Cordage Company Office Building is a historic place in San Francisco, California. This structure, built in 1890, served as the superintendent's office for the Tubbs Cordage Company. Alfred and Hiram Tubbs founded Tubbs and Company in 1853 as a ship chandlery business. Recognizing the dema

• Hallidie Building

  Welcome to the Hallidie Building in San Francisco, California. This historic place, located in San Francisco County, opened in 1918. It was designed by architect Willis Polk and named in honor of Andrew Hallidie, who was known for his work with San Francisco's cable car system. The building was orig

• Irving Murray Scott School

  The Irving Murray Scott School, located in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood, stands as the city's oldest surviving public schoolhouse. The San Francisco School Department first built an eight-room school on this property in 1877. This was to serve the children of workers in the area's heavy ind

• The Real Estate Associates (TREA) Houses

  The Real Estate Associates, known as TREA, was founded in San Francisco in 1866 by William Hollis. This company was among the first to mass-produce detached housing for families across different income levels. During the 1870s, TREA constructed over one thousand Italianate-style houses. These homes

• Swedish American Hall

  The Swedish American Hall, located in San Francisco, is a historic place. It was constructed in 1907. The building served as the home for the Swedish Society of San Francisco, which was founded in 1875. Designed by architect August Nordin, the hall features an Arts and Crafts style. Its architectura

• Paige Motor Car Co. Building

  The Paige Motor Car Company Building is located at 1699 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, California. This historic structure was built in two phases, in 1919 and 1922. Architect Sylvain Schnaittacher designed the building. It served as an automobile showroom, a prominent example on San Francisco's

• The Lee, Don, Building

  The Lee, Don, Building, a historic place in San Francisco, was erected in 1921. Designed by architects Weeks and Day, it became one of San Francisco's most architecturally significant automobile showrooms. Located on Van Ness Avenue, it was a prominent part of the city's historic Auto Row. Don Lee c

• The Ferryboat Eureka

  The historic ferryboat Eureka, located in San Francisco, was built in 1890 in Tiburon, California. Initially named Ukiah, this side-wheel paddle steamboat transported passengers and railway cars for the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad. Between 1920 and 1922, the vessel was rebuilt and rena

• SS Jeremiah O'Brien

  The SS Jeremiah O'Brien is a historic place in San Francisco County. This Liberty ship was launched in 1943. During World War II, it served as a crucial cargo vessel, participating in the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944. The O'Brien completed eleven trips across the English Channel, delivering es

• U.S. Appraisers Stores and Immigration Station

  In San Francisco, at 630 Sansome Street, stands the U.S. Appraisers Stores and Immigration Station. This historic place, also known as the Appraisers Building, was constructed between 1939 and 1944. Designed by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood in the PWA Art Moderne style, it began operations in

• Building at 1735--1737 Webster Street

  The building at 1735-1737 Webster Street in San Francisco is a notable historic place, also known as the Vollmer House. It was constructed around 1876, though some records suggest a period extending to 1885. This structure was designed by the Newsom Brothers, Samuel and Joseph Cather Newsom. They cr

• Lotta Crabtree Fountain

  The Lotta Crabtree Fountain is a historic place in San Francisco, California, located at the intersection of Market, Geary, and Kearny Streets. This fountain was a gift to the city from the entertainer Lotta Crabtree, erected in 1875. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the cast-iron

• Pumping Station No. 2 San Francisco Fire Department Auxiliary Water Supply System

  Pumping Station No. 2 of the San Francisco Fire Department Auxiliary Water Supply System is a historic place in San Francisco County. Erected in 1912, this station sits near Fort Mason, at the northern end of Van Ness Avenue. Its creation followed the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, which revealed the in

• San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal

  The San Francisco National Guard Armory and Arsenal is a historic building located in San Francisco, California. Constructed between 1912 and 1914, it was designed by the firm of Woollett and Woollett. The building features a Moorish Revival style, giving it a fortress-like appearance. This armory r

• Building at 1840--1842 Eddy Street

  The building at 1840-1842 Eddy Street in San Francisco, California, is a historic place. Constructed around 1875, it is known as the Martin O'Dea House, named for its original owner, a farrier. This Stick/Eastlake style structure was originally at 751 Turk Street. In 1974, it was moved to Eddy Stree

• HERCULES (tugboat)

  The tugboat Hercules, a historic vessel in San Francisco, was built in 1907 in Camden, New Jersey. She began her service with a maiden voyage, towing her sister ship, Goliah, around South America to San Francisco. Hercules initially served as an ocean-going tug, hauling ships, disabled vessels, and

• Temple Sherith Israel

  Temple Sherith Israel in San Francisco, California, traces its origins to the Gold Rush era. The congregation was founded in 1851, making it one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. Architect Albert Pissis designed the current sanctuary building, constructed from 1904 to 1905. The building

• Central Embarcadero Piers Historic District

  The Central Embarcadero Piers Historic District in San Francisco, California, includes Piers 1, 1½, 3, and 5. These piers opened in 1918, following over a decade of construction. Chief Engineer Frank G. White led this project. The piers were built in the Beaux-Arts architectural style, similar to Ne

• Otis Elevator Company Building

  In San Francisco, the Otis Elevator Company Building is a historic place located at 1 Beach Street. This three-story, steel and concrete structure was built from 1923 to 1924. Designed by Otis's architectural office, it served as a regional assembly plant for elevators. It also manufactured control

• Baker and Hamilton Building, San Francisco

  The Baker and Hamilton Building, a historic place in San Francisco, stands at 601 Townsend Street. Constructed in 1905, it originally housed the Pacific Hardware and Steel Company. This building notably survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. In 1918, the company merged with Baker & Ham

• Quarters 1, Yerba Buena Island, Naval Training Station

  On Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco, you'll find Quarters 1, a historic place also known as the Nimitz House. This building was erected circa 1900 as the commandant's residence for the U.S. Naval Training Station. The Naval Training Station on Yerba Buena Island was significant as the first U.S.

• Building at 45-57 Beideman Place

  The building at 45-57 Beideman Place in San Francisco is a designated Historic Place. This two-story, wood-frame structure was originally built in 1875. It displays an early Italianate architectural style, characterized by its planar design and horizontal solidity. The building was not always at th

• Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

  The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, a significant historic place in San Francisco County, began its operations in 1914. Its first permanent headquarters, the Old Federal Reserve Bank Building, was completed in 1924 at 400 Sansome Street. Architect George W. Kelham designed this structure, whi

• Rialto Building

  The Rialto Building, a historic place in San Francisco County, was originally constructed in 1902. Designed by the architectural firm Meyer & O'Brien, this eight-story structure featured an H-shaped plan with central light courts. Its steel frame was clad in brick and terra cotta, with a highly orna

• Spencer, John, House

  The John Spencer House is a historic place in San Francisco, California. This Queen Anne Victorian mansion was constructed in 1895. It was built for John C. Spencer, who was a successful milliner. Located at 1080 Haight Street in the Haight-Ashbury district, the house showcases intricate wood carvi

• One Lombard Street

  One Lombard Street, located in San Francisco, is recognized as a historic place. This building was designed in 1900 and constructed the following year, in 1901. It is associated with master architect Willis Polk, one of San Francisco's most influential architects from the 1890s through the 1920s. On

• Doolan, Richard P., Residence and Storefronts

  The Richard P. Doolan Residence and Storefronts is a historic place in San Francisco County, located at the prominent corner of Haight and Ashbury Streets. This Colonial Revival style house was constructed in 1903 as the personal residence of Richard P. Doolan, and was designed by Frank T. Doolan. A

• NIANTIC (Storeship)

  Here in San Francisco, at the northwest corner of Clay and Sansome Streets, lies the site of the historic Niantic Storeship. Originally built in Connecticut in 1832, the Niantic was a whaleship that later brought fortune-seekers to San Francisco during the 1849 Gold Rush. Upon its arrival in July 1

• Coffin--Redington Building, San Francisco

  The Coffin--Redington Building is a historic place in San Francisco, California. It was constructed between 1936 and 1937. Frederick H. Meyer, a significant San Francisco architect, designed the building. The structure served as the headquarters for the Coffin-Redington Drug Company, housing its off

• San Francisco Fire Department Engine Co. Number 2

  San Francisco Fire Department Engine Company Number 2 has a history dating back to December 3, 1866, when it was organized as part of the city's new paid fire department. The historic firehouse at 460 Bush Street, which served Engine Company Number 2, was completed in 1908. This building holds part

• Fuller Company Glass Warehouse

  The W. P. Fuller Company Glass Warehouse, located in San Francisco, is a historic place at 50 Green Street. This building was constructed in 1907, designed by architect Willis Polk. It stands as one of the best remaining examples of the brick warehouses that characterized San Francisco's Embarcadero

• New Mission Theater, San Francisco

  The New Mission Theater, located in San Francisco's Mission District, opened on May 4, 1916. It was originally designed by the Reid Brothers. In 1932, architect Timothy Pflueger remodeled the theater, transforming it into an Art Deco-style showpiece. The theater was a centerpiece of the "Mission Mir

• Armour & Co. Building

  Here in San Francisco, at 1050 Battery Street, stands the Armour & Co. Building. This historic three-story brick structure was erected in 1907. It was designed by the architectural firm Henry Geilfuss & Son in an Italianate style. The building served as a meat smoking and packing facility for Armour

• Atherton House

  The Atherton House, a historic San Francisco landmark, is located at 1990 California Street in the Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood. It was constructed in 1881 for Dominga de Goñi Atherton, widow of prominent merchant Faxon D. Atherton. The house displays an eclectic Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake

• Haas-Lilienthal House

  The Haas-Lilienthal House, located in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, was constructed in 1886. Architect Peter R. Schmidt designed this Victorian Queen Anne-style home for William and Bertha Haas. This residence is notable for its survival of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subse

• Warren, Russell, House

  The Warren, Russell, House is a recognized Historic Place in San Francisco, California. This site is located within San Francisco County. The specific year this house was erected is not available in the provided historical records. Information regarding its original construction date is not present.

• House at 1254--1256 Montgomery Street

  The House at 1254-1256 Montgomery Street in San Francisco is a historic place on Telegraph Hill. This Italianate residence was constructed around 1865, on a site previously occupied by Hudson's Windmill, which burned in an 1861 fire. Initially a one-story rooming house, a second story was added by

• The International Hotel: A San Francisco Landmark

  The International Hotel in San Francisco, California, has a notable history. Originally built in 1854, it was rebuilt at 848 Kearny Street in 1907 following the 1906 earthquake and fire. By the 1920s, the hotel became a central point for Manilatown, a Filipino American community. It provided low-co

• Hale Brothers Department Store

  Hale Brothers Department Store was a significant retail establishment in San Francisco. The company, founded in 1876, opened its first San Francisco store in 1892. A prominent location for Hale Brothers was the grand store that opened on October 31, 1912, at 901 Market Street, at the southwest corne

• House at 1331-1335 Scott Street

  The House at 1331-1335 Scott Street in San Francisco is a historic place. These woodframe, Stick Style townhouses were originally built in 1888. Martin O'Dea, a prominent horseshoer, was the original owner. The property first stood at 216-220 Elm Street. It survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. In

• Goodman Building, San Francisco

  The Goodman Building, located at 1117 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco, is a historic place. It was constructed around 1860, possibly as four Victorian houses. Following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the building was remodeled into a residential hotel to address the city's housing shor

• House at 1249--1251 Scott Street

  The House at 1249-1251 Scott Street is a historic Italianate Victorian residence in San Francisco. Constructed in 1868, it stands on the corner of Scott and Ellis Streets. This house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This designation was part of a critical effort to sav

• House at 1239--1245 Scott Street

  The House at 1239-1245 Scott Street in San Francisco is recognized as a historic place. This Italianate Victorian building was constructed in 1882. It was built for John J. Dowling, a contractor. The building was originally located at 1356-62 Scott Street. In 1973, it was listed on the National Regi

• Old Ohio Street Houses

  The Old Ohio Street Houses are located on Osgood Place in San Francisco, California. This short, narrow street was originally known as Ohio Street, officially changing to Osgood Place in 1909. These three brick buildings were constructed between 1900 and 1907. They provided small, simple living quar

• McElroy Octagon House

  The McElroy Octagon House, a historic place in San Francisco County, was built in 1861 by William and Harriet McElroy. This unique octagonal architectural style was inspired by Orson Squire Fowler's 1848 book, "The Octagon House: A Home For All." The design was believed to offer more interior light,

• U.S. Customhouse, San Francisco

  The U.S. Customhouse in San Francisco, California, is a significant historic place. The United States Customs Service, established in 1789, collected duties and taxes on imported goods. By the early 1900s, San Francisco's expanding port required a larger customhouse. In 1905, the St. Louis architect