A timeline of San Francisco’s tallest buildings, from 1853 to 2018
The title of “San Francisco’s tallest building” has changed hands 12 times since the mid 1800s. In a few years, it will change for the 13th time. Here’s a brief history of the city’s tallest buildings in chronological order…
Year tallest: 1853 – 1854 Height: 50 feet, 4 Floors Location: 628 Montgomery Street Interesting fact: 628 Montgomery, or more commonly known as Montgomery Block, was billed as the safest building in San Francisco when it was first built. Indeed, it was the only major downtown building to survive the devastating 1906 earthquake and fires.
Years tallest: 1855 – 1874 Height: 90 feet, one floor Location: 660 California Street Interesting fact: While only boasting one floor above ground, Old Saint Mary’s Cathedral held the title of San Francisco’s tallest building for nearly 20 years. When it first opened, the cathedral was the tallest building in San Francisco and California.
Years tallest: 1875 – 1890 Height: 120 feet, 7 floors Location: 120 Montgomery Street Interesting fact: When the original Palace with 775 rooms was constructed, it was said to be the largest hotel in the Western United States.
Years tallest: 1890 – 1898 Height: 218 feet, 10 floors Location: 690 Market Street Interesting facts: The Chronicle Building was San Francisco’s first skyscraper and the tallest building on the West Coast when it was first completed in 1890. In 1905, a celebration of the re-election of Mayor Eugene Schmitz stopped in front of the building and launched fireworks, which ignited the wooden clock tower atop the building. The damaged clock tower was removed and two additional floors were added along Market Street and a 16-story annex along Kearny Street.
Call Building (previously the Spreckels Building, now Central Tower)
Years tallest: 1898 – 1902 Height: 315 feet, 15 floors Location: 703 Market Street Interesting fact: The Call Building was gutted by the fires that followed the 1906 earthquake. Though badly burned, the exterior structure survived the flames. In 1938, Albert Roller renovated the building removing the baroque dome, and reduced the height by 298 feet.
Year tallest: 1922 – 1925 Height: 328 feet, 22 floors Location: 225 Bush Street Interesting fact: Architect George W. Kelham designed the Standard Oil Building for John D. Rockefeller and modeled it after New York City’s Federal Reserve Bank building.
Years tallest: 1925 – 1965 Height: 435 feet, 26 floors Location: 140 New Montgomery Street Interesting fact: There are eight statues of eagles that are nested at the top of this iconic art deco landmark. Today, Yelp headquarters is one of its main tenants.
Years tallest: 1927 – 1965 Height: 435 feet, 31 floors Location: 235 Montgomery Street Interesting fact: For 38 years the Russ Building and the Pacific Telephone Building were co-holders of San Francisco’s tallest building title. The Russ Building had the city’s first indoor parking garage.
Years tallest: 1965 – 1967 Location: 650 California Street Height: 466 feet, 33 floors Interesting fact: When the tower was completed in 1964, it was the second building in San Francisco larger than 400,000 square feet. It also became the tallest building in all of California, replacing both the Russ Building in San Francisco and the Los Angeles’ City Hall building.
Years tallest: 1967 – 1969 Height: 565 feet, 43 floors Location: 44 Montgomery Street Interesting fact: 44 Montgomery Street building has direct underground access to the Montgomery Street Station. While it hasn’t held the title of “San Francisco’s tallest building” for more than 45 years, it does still currently rank as the city’s 11th tallest building.
Years tallest: 1969 – 1972 Height: 779 feet, 52 floors Location: 555 California Street Interesting fact: 555 California, or “Triple Five,” has appeared on the big screen in such films as Dirty Harry, The Towering Inferno, and An Eye for an Eye.
Years tallest: 1972 – present Height: 853 feet, 48 floors Location: 600 Montgomery Street Interesting facts: Built on the same block as Montgomery Block, it estimated that several thousands of dollars in change were thrown into the pit for good luck by onlookers while the foundation was poured. Reigning as San Francisco’s tallest building for 43 years, it will be surpassed by…
Years tallest: (currently under construction) 2018 – ? Height: 1,070 feet, 61 floors Location: 415 Mission Street Interesting fact: San Francisco’s future tallest building will boast 1.42 million square feet of space.
