The International Hotel: A San Francisco Landmark
historic place
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-cost housing for elderly Filipino and Chinese immigrant laborers. In the late 1960s, urban redevelopment plans led to a nine-year anti-eviction campaign. Despite significant community resistance, tenants were forcibly evicted on August 4, 1977. The hotel was then demolished in 1979. A new building, offering affordable senior housing, opened on the site in 2005. The International Hotel remains a significant landmark representing community activism and the fight for housing rights in San Francisco.