St. Paulus Lutheran Church, San Francisco
historic place
St. Paulus Lutheran Church, located at 999 Eddy Street in San Francisco, began as a congregation on May 15, 1867. It was the first Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod congregation in California. The Gothic-style church building, constructed from 1892 to 1894, featured a wooden facade replicating Chartres Cathedral. Services transitioned from German to English by 1936. During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, the church served as a shelter and hospital, surviving the disaster. A 1940 fire damaged its roof and tower, which were restored. St. Paulus was designated a San Francisco Landmark in 1980 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It also appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 film, "Vertigo." On November 5, 1995, the church was destroyed by fire, and its landmark status was rescinded. This location marks a notable historical presence and record of community service in San Francisco.