South San Francisco in San Mateo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

City Hall

"The Grand Walk"

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

1. City Hall Marker

Inscription. City Hall was dedicated on Armistice Day, November 11, 1920. Modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the building was designed by Werner and Coffey Architects and constructed for $125,000. Since 1908, the year of the City's incorporation, City Trustees had been meeting at 310 Linden Avenue. The property for the Civic Center site, consisting of the block between Walnut and Miller Avenues, was purchased in 1913 for $10,000, and voters passed a bond measure to finance the new City Hall in 1919. The Police Department, at the time consisting of three members, and the Fire Department, run by volunteers, were originally housed at City Hall.

Est. 1920

Erected 2017 by City of South San Francisco, Historical Society of South San Francisco. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical date for this entry is November 11, 1920.

Location. 37° 39.358′ N, 122° 24.793′ W. Marker is in South San Francisco, California, in San Mateo County. It is on Grand Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Grand Avenue, South San Francisco CA 94080, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific

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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: Enterprise Journal (within shouting distance of this marker); Grand Avenue Library (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Grand Avenue Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Women's Club (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bank of SSF (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); South San Francisco General Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eikerenkotter House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South San Francisco.

Also see . . .
1. Welcome to South San Francisco's "The Grand Walk". City of South San Francisco PDF brochure of a map of the "Grand Walk", including route, photo, and information about each stop on the way. (Submitted on July 9, 2021.)

2. City of South San Francisco History. City website entry (Submitted on July 9, 2021.)

City Hall and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

2. City Hall and Marker

The marker is visible just to the left of the steps leading up from the sidewalk.

City Hall - detail of ornamentation above the entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

3. City Hall - detail of ornamentation above the entrance

"The Grand Walk" tour - Site No. 1 sidewalk marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, July 7, 2021

4. "The Grand Walk" tour - Site No. 1 sidewalk marker

This is the first of eleven stops on the city's "The Grand Walk", a self-guided tour of the historic sites and buildings along or in the vicinity of Grand Avenue.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 9, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.