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

Parrot Building

(The Emporium)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 10, 2014

1. Parrot Building Marker

Inscription.
Designed by Albert Pissis in 1896, the former Parrot Building that occupied this site housed the Emporium Department Store on the first two floors. Other tenants included the Supreme Court of California on the fifth floor. The building was renowned for its large dome and monumental façade of Colusa sandstone blocks. The façade survived the earthquake of 1906, but the great fire that followed gutted the interior and only part of the original structure remained. The 1896 façade was subsequently included in a reconstructed building reopened in 1908, housing only the Emporium. Until it closed in 1996, the Emporium was one of San Francisco’s leading retail establishments in the tradition of the grand department store. The present building incorporates the 1896 façade as well as the structure and ornamental cladding of the 1908 dome, which has been raised 60 feet above its original location.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 37° 47.087′ N, 122° 24.411′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Yerba Buena. It is on Market Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 865 Market Street, San Francisco CA 94103, 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Ignatius College (a few steps from this marker); San Francisco Centre (within shouting distance of this marker); Andrew S. Hallidie (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); John's Grill (about 300 feet away); 49 Fourth Street (about 600 feet away); The Barbary Coast Trail (about 700 feet away); Old United States Mint (about 700 feet away); Hotel Bristol (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . Albert Pissis - Wikipedia. Albert Pissis (1852-1914) was the architect who introduced the Beaux-Arts architectural style to San Francisco, California, designing a number of important buildings in the city in the years before and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. (Submitted on February 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 10, 2014

2. Parrot Building Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 944 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 21, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.