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

Building 49

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020

1. Building 49 Marker

Inscription. This simple industrial building was constructed circa 1940 during a time of shipyard modernization and expansion, as World War II raged in Europe but the U.S. had yet to be attacked. Building 49 is a simple utilitarian structure that is 152 feet long by 46 feet long, with corrugated metal-clad walls over steel frames on a concrete foundation. The long monitor in the gable roof provides natural lighting inside its open interior, and two of the original three six-ton cranes in the building remain on rails under the roof. It was connected by rail lines to shipbuilding Slips 1 and 3 as well as nearby Slip 4.

Inside, steel hull plates and numerous other ship components were galvanized, or coated with zinc, in order to reduce corrosion: a process that involved lye, sulfuric acid and muriatic acid. The dangerous nature of this process may have led to the building being sited at the very edge of the yard.

Erected 2020 by Union Iron Works Historic District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 37° 45.774′ N, 122° 23.231′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Central Waterfront. It is at the intersection of Illinois Street and 18th Street, on the right when traveling north on Illinois Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

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Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Yard Evolution: New Power and Production (here, next to this marker); Industrial Architecture (a few steps from this marker); Yard Layout: Form Follows Function (a few steps from this marker); Crane 14 (within shouting distance of this marker); Ship Propeller Drive Shaft (within shouting distance of this marker); Industrialization of the Shoreline (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Steel Lathe (about 400 feet away); Radial Drill Press (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the south side of Building 49 in Crane Cove Park.

Building 49 and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020

2. Building 49 and Marker

The Building 49 Marker is the rightmost of the four markers visible here.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 30, 2020

3. Building 49

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 557 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.