The Women's Building, San Francisco
historic place
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 Daughters of Norway acquired the building, renaming it Dovre Hall. In 1978, the San Francisco Women's Center purchased the building, transforming it into the first woman-owned and operated community center in the United States. It officially became The Women's Building in 1979. This center advocates for self-determination, gender equality, and social justice, serving thousands of women annually. An iconic feature is the MaestraPeace mural, initiated in 1990 and completed in 1994 by a team of seven women artists. This mural celebrates female figures from history and fiction. The Women's Building was designated a San Francisco Landmark in 1985 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. It remains a significant site for women's activism and community support.