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

Polytechnic High School

Photographed by Lane Parker, January 23, 2019

1. Polytechnic High School Marker

The marker commemorating the site of the relocated Polytechnic High School.

Inscription. Founded in 1894 to teach vocational skills, it produced generations of scholars, athletes, workers, creative thinkers, and informed citizens.

The 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed the original school building at Bush and Stockton streets, and a new campus was erected on this site in 1914. The last class graduated in 1972. The school building was razed in 1987, but two flanking gymnasium buildings erected in 1929 and 1936, remain in productive use.

Grateful alumni have placed the original cornerstone in this replica wall to mark the building's centennial, 2014.

Monument design by Harvey Hacker, Architect

Erected 2014 by Polytechnic High School Alumni.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.

Location. 37° 45.947′ N, 122° 27.407′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Parnassus Heights. It is on Frederick Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 755 Frederick Street, San Francisco CA 94117, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The First Public Children's Playground in the United States (approx. 0.2 miles away); San Francisco Lawn Bowling Clubhouse and Greens (approx. ¼ mile away); Alvord Lake Bridge (approx. ¼ mile away); Dune Stabilization is a Grassroots Effort

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(approx. ¼ mile away); The Conservatory (approx. half a mile away); Shakespeare Bust (approx. 0.6 miles away); Migration of the Monastery Stones (approx. 0.6 miles away); Doolan/Larson Residence and Storefronts (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Planning Golden Gate Park (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Circus Center. The website for Circus Center, "A circus training and performing arts center in San Francisco, offering classes for all levels, parties, team-building events, and camps." (Submitted on March 12, 2019, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California.)

Complete monument including Marker. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lane Parker, January 23, 2019

2. Complete monument including Marker.

The featured Marker is on the right-hand side of the monument. To the left, the marble plaque reads, "Polytechnic High School Erected AD 1914." The wooden sign to the right of the monument reads, "Please do not sit or climb on this structure."

Looking east down Frederick Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lane Parker, January 23, 2019

3. Looking east down Frederick Street.

The Marker is located to the right of center. Farther to the right is a dark post with the number 755, denoting the street address. The metal sign on the building's brick wall reads, "Circus Center." The Circus Center is housed in the western gymnasium building described in the Marker.

Looking west down Frederick Street. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lane Parker, January 23, 2019

4. Looking west down Frederick Street.

The monument including the Marker is visible in the lower left corner. The height of this gymnasium building allows for trapeze practice over what was once a basketball court.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 12, 2019, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California. This page has been viewed 507 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 12, 2019, by Lane Parker of San Francisco, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.