San Francisco's Market Street: Historical Core: The Embarcadero Until The Tenderloin

Market Street forms the vertebrae of San Francisco. First surveyed in 1847 by Jasper O'Farrell, the boulevard was laid out to provide a transition between two opposing grids. Intended to become the city's main and widest thoroughfare, it rapidly became the busiest.

In the mid 19th century, San Francisco was regarded as the most developed western American outpost of urbanity, sophistication and refinement. By the conclusion of the century, its reputation rivaled many East Coast cities. Market Street became the base for cable car and horse car lines providing service along the local commercial corridor and connections to distant transfer destinations.

The 1906 catastrophic San Francisco Earthquake and Fire briefly halted development. During the reconstruction, the Market Street cable car lines would be entirely removed and replaced by electric streetcars. Automobiles would replace streetcars. During the 1970s, the introduction of the subterranean Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) alleviated some of the traffic congestion.

This edition is an architectural survey of Market Street's historical and contemporary buildings accompanied by historical profiles. The narrative begins from the Embarcadero until the Tenderloin district.

Architectural Properties Photographed:

"Cupid's Span", The Embarcadero and Folsom Streets

The Embarcadero, Piers 1, 1½, 3 and 5

Hyatt Regency Hotel, 5 Embarcadero Center

Robert Frost Memorial Plaque, California and Drumm

Landmark Building, 1 Market

Federal Reserve Bank Building, 101 Market

One California Building, 1 California

Mattson Building, 245 Market

101 California Building

Pacific Gas and Electric Building, 77 Beale

333 Market Building

388 Market Building

Liberty Bell Slot Machine Marker, 406 Market

425 Market Building

One Front Building

Mechanics Monument, Market at Battery and Bush

Central Plaza, 455 Market

One Bush Building

Battery Bridge Public Art, Between Market and Bush

First Market Tower, 525 Market

525 Market Fountain

American Trust Bank Building, 532 Market

Flat Iron Building, 544 Market

550 Market Building

554 Market Building

Patrick & Company, 560 Market

Chancery Building, 562-566 Market

570-572 Market Building

Market Center Building, 555-575 Market

The Finance Building, 576-580 Market

581-585 Market Building

Hobart Building, 582 Market

595 Market Building

West Coast Life Building, 601-605 Market Building

607-611 Market Building

Metropolis Trust Building, 625 Market

44 Montgomery Building

California Admission Day Memorial, Market and Montgomery

One Montgomery Tower, 120 Kearny

One Post Building

652-660 Market Building

De Young Building, 690 Market

Lotte Crabtree Fountain, Market and Geary and Kearny

Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery

Monadnock Building, 685 Market

One Kearny Building

Hearst Building, 5 Third

Mutual Savings Bank Building, 700-716 Market

Central Tower, 701-705 Market

711-713 Market Building

717 Market Building

720 Market Building

721 Market Building

722-742 Market Building

Bancroft Building, 731 Market

Union Trust Building, 744 Market

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, 757-765 Market

Savings Union Branch of Security Pacific National Bank, 1 Grant

Phelan Building, 760-784 Market

Humboldt Saving Bank Building, 785 Market

799 Market Building

2 Stockton Building

Hotel Zelos, 12 Fourth

James Bong Building, 825-833 Market

California Savings Bank Building, 830 Market

Parrot Building/The Emporium, 835 Market

838-842 Market Street

856 Market Building

James Flood Building, 870 Market

Hallidie Plaza, Public Square at Powell Station

901 Market Building

One Hallidie Plaza

944 Market Building

Bank of America Building, One Powell