Civic Center in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Hotel Whitcomb
Temporary City Hall 1912 to 1915
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 22, 2024
1. Hotel Whitcomb Marker
Hotel Whitcomb
San Francisco
Est. 1916
Temporary City Hall
1912 to 1915
Erected by Hotel Whitcomb.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 37° 46.695′ N, 122° 24.91′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Civic Center. It is on Market Street near 8th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1231 Market St, San Francisco CA 94102, 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 Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ashurbanipal Monument (about 500 feet away, measured in a
this page online
Regarding Hotel Whitcomb.
The hotel was built from 1911 to 1912. The Whitcomb opened in 1912 as San Francisco's temporary city hall, and then reopened in 1917 as a 400-room hotel. Plans for the building began in 1910 with the hiring of architects Wright & Rushforth and an agreement to lease the building for three years to the City of San Francisco as a temporary city hall. The old San Francisco City Hall was destroyed by fire after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. From the outset, the intention was to convert the building into a hotel once the new, permanent city hall was completed. The staggered uses required the architects to prepare two sets of drawings, one superimposing the plans for
Photographed by Craig Baker, October 22, 2024
2. Hotel Whitcomb Marker
With the completion of San Francisco City Hall in 1916, the building was converted into a 400-room hotel that opened in 1917. The hotel was named for Adolphus Carter Whitcomb whose estate owned the property.
When it opened, the hotel was proclaimed "the last word in modern hoteldom" with "the most modern fireproof construction".
The total cost of the project was placed at more than $2.25 million, including $700,000 for original construction of the temporary city hall, $400,000 for structural changes to convert the building into a hotel, and $150,000 for furnishings.
In 1922, a new wing with an additional 102 guest rooms was added.
During World War II, the Whitcomb provided office space for the Office for Emergency Management, the organization responsible for organizing and administering the internment of Japanese Americans.
In 1963, the hotel was converted into residential rentals, with no transient occupancy. In
Photographed by Craig Baker
3. Hotel Whitcomb
In 2020 the hotel became a shelter for homeless due to the pandemic.
-from Wikipedia
Photographed by Craig Baker
4. Hotel Whitcomb Lobby
Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 302 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 26, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on December 26, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
