Architectural Heritage
San Francisco's architecture tells the story of a city built on ambition, destroyed by earthquake, and rebuilt with even greater vision. The 1906 earthquake and fire leveled most of the city, making the surviving Victorian homes and the subsequent Beaux-Arts rebuilding all the more remarkable.
Signature Styles
Victorian & Edwardian
San Francisco has the largest collection of Victorian homes in the world. The iconic "Painted Ladies" on Steiner Street showcase Queen Anne style with their ornate detailing, bay windows, and colorful facades. Neighborhoods like Pacific Heights, Haight-Ashbury, and the Castro are living museums of Victorian architecture.
Beaux-Arts & Civic Grandeur
After 1906, architect Arthur Brown Jr. led the city's civic rebuilding in grand Beaux-Arts style. His San Francisco City Hall (1915) features a dome taller than the U.S. Capitol, while the War Memorial Opera House and Veterans Building complete the Civic Center ensemble.
Modern & Contemporary
The Transamerica Pyramid (1972) by William Pereira became the city's icon. More recently, the Salesforce Tower (2018) by César Pelli redefined the skyline at 1,070 feet, while Snøhetta's SFMOMA expansion (2016) pushed museum architecture into new territory.
Notable Buildings
- Transamerica Pyramid — William Pereira's 1972 futurist icon in the Financial District
- San Francisco City Hall — Arthur Brown Jr.'s 1915 Beaux-Arts masterpiece
- Painted Ladies — The famous Victorian row houses at Alamo Square
- SFMOMA — Mario Botta's original (1995) with Snøhetta's dramatic 2016 expansion
- Ferry Building — 1898 Beaux-Arts terminal with its iconic clock tower
- Palace of Fine Arts — Bernard Maybeck's 1915 Romanesque rotunda, the sole survivor of the Panama-Pacific Exposition
- Coit Tower — Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill with Depression-era murals
- Salesforce Tower — The city's tallest building (2018), crowned with a public art installation
Neighborhoods to Explore
Pacific Heights & The Marina
Grand Victorians and Edwardians line the streets of Pacific Heights, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Palace of Fine Arts anchors the Marina District with its Roman rotunda.
Financial District & SoMa
The Transamerica Pyramid and Salesforce Tower define the modern skyline. South of Market (SoMa) is home to SFMOMA and a wave of contemporary development.
Civic Center
A masterclass in Beaux-Arts urban planning, centered on City Hall's magnificent dome.
Contemporary Scene
San Francisco continues to evolve architecturally, with the Transbay Transit Center, Chase Center arena, and ongoing Mission Bay development adding contemporary layers to a city whose architecture spans every major American style.
