Financial District in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 18, 2010

1. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Marker

Inscription.
Near this site occurred
the incident which led to the formation of
The San Francisco
Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals
on April 8, 1868
———————————
James Sloan Hutchinson, a pioneer banker witnessing nearby an act of cruelty to animals a condition all too common at that time, was aroused to put a stop to the offense. This also lead him to gather a number of leading citizens to form the first SPCA in the west and the fourth in the United States.

Presented by
The American Humane Association
in cooperation with the
California Historical Society
and the Wells Fargo Bank in recognition of
100 years of service on behalf of animals by
The SF SPCA
October 30, 1968

Erected 1968 by The American Humane Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Charity & Public Work • Notable Events. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1914.

Location. 37° 47.68′ N, 122° 24.137′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in the Financial District. Marker is at the intersection of Clay Street and Leidesdorff Street on Clay

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Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Ship Niantic (within shouting distance of this marker); Commander John B. Montgomery's Landing Site (within shouting distance of this marker); Bank of Italy (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Family" (within shouting distance of this marker); Bummer and Lazarus (within shouting distance of this marker); William Alexander Leidesdorff (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of What Cheer House (about 300 feet away); Western Headquarters of Russell, Majors, and Waddell (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. The marker is mounted on the Clay Street side of the building on the corner of Clay and Leidesdorff. (For easy navigation - the marker site is across the street from the south side of the Transamerica Pyramid.)

Regarding The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. On a spring day in 1868 San Francisco banker James Sloan Hutchinson caught sight of two men dragging a terrified hog along the rough cobblestone street. Appalled, Hutchinson stepped in to stop the cruelty and rescue the

The San Francisco SPCA Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, July 18, 2010

2. The San Francisco SPCA Marker - wide view

The marker is visible here on the building to the left of Leidesdorff Street.

hog. The incident crystallized Hutchinson's concern over widespread animal abuse, and he soon rallied 15 like-minded citizens to found The San Francisco SPCA.

Also see . . . San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Website homepage (Submitted on June 8, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 2,148 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.