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

Bank of California

“The Grand Old Lady of California Street”

— 400 California Street —

Bank of California Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 16, 2013

1. Bank of California Marker

Inscription. The Bank of California, a founding financier of the West, was established by William Chapman Ralston on July 5, 1864, the company quickly outgrew its quarters at this location and engaged architects Walter Danforth Bliss and William Baker Faville to design an impressive new building for the site.

In January 1906, the bank moved to a temporary location while beginning preparations for the splendid new building. Progress was halted abruptly on April 18, 1908 by the earthquake and fire, but work recommenced just six weeks later. The Bank of California’s new building – today affectionately called “The Grand Old Lady of California Street” – opened on September 8, 1908 as the first new commercial structure the Financial District to rise out of the ruins of the earthquake.

The Bank of California and Union Bank merged in 1996 to create Union Bank of California, N.A. This historic building was rededicated on its 100th anniversary September 8, 2008, by Union Bank of California President and Chief Executive Officer Masakki Tanaka and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Erected 2008 by Union Bank

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of California. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1906.

Location. 37° 47.59′ N, 122° 24.085′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in the Financial District. It is at the intersection of California Street and Sansome Street, on the right when traveling west on California Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 California Street, San Francisco CA 94104, 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: Union Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); William Alexander Leidesdorff (about 300 feet away,

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 16, 2013

2. Bank of California Marker

measured in a direct line); Site of What Cheer House (about 300 feet away); “The Orient Building” (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named William Alexander Leidesdorff (about 400 feet away); Wells, Fargo & Co. (about 400 feet away); The Old Chamber of Commerce Building (about 500 feet away); "The Family" (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . Bank of California and William Ralston -found SF. Ralston dabbled in a number of schemes before finding his lode. Some things like helping to finance the takeover of Nicaragua by soldier of fortune William Walker just did not pay off. It was to the Comstock Lode south of present-day Reno that "Billy" Ralston hitched his star soon after its discovery in 1859. (Submitted on December 19, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Bank of California Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, December 16, 2013

3. Bank of California Plaque

A similar plaque at the Union Bank of California entrance portico.

The Bank of California opened for business July 5, 1864 at the southwest corner of Washington and Battery streets. In 1865 construction began on a new home at California and Sansome (this location) which was occupied June 27, 1867. The bank outgrew these quarters and in January 1906 moved to a temporary location at California and Leidesdorff while the present building was being erected. Construction was about to begin when the earthquake and fire occurred April 18, 1906. Work was resumed after the emergency and the bank returned to this site September 8, 1908.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,420 times since then and 75 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 19, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.