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Overview

This 18,000-square-foot hall was erected for a money-raising exhibition organized the Mechanics' Pavilion in 1857.

Building History

As noted by Mechanics' Institute librarian Taryn Edwards, the organization held 31 industrial fairs "that displayed and promoted the products of local entrpreneurs and inventors" between 1857 and 1899. Edwards indicated that these industrial exhibits were important showcases for California's early inventors and commercial enterprises, setting the standards for later fairs held in the northern part of the state: "These Expositions bolstered California's infant economy, encouraged the demand for local goods, and whetted the public's appetite for elaborate, multi-attraction fairs. Because of the Mechanics' Institute's vast experience with putting on such spectacles they were involved as consultants on larger state-wide fairs including the California Midwinter Fair of 1894, the Golden Jubilee Mining Fair of 1898, the Portola Exposition of 1909, and the Panama Pacific Exposition in 1915." (See Taryn Edwards, Mechanics' Institute.org, "San Francisco at the Fair: the Mechanics’ Institute’s Industrial Expositions, 1857-1899," accessed 10/30/2023.)

The Mechanics' Institute Fair lasted for four weeks in 1857, and featured products made by industries from across the State of California. A history of the Mechanics' Institute, accessible on its web site, said of the building housing the 1857 fair and the fair itself: "The wood frame building had a canvas roof and was approximately 18,000 square feet — then the largest building in California. The interior was cross-shaped, with four rooms that opened onto a central lobby. Beneath the dome was a bubbling fountain festooned with flowers and above, hanging from the rafters was a huge eagle with wings outstretched — a symbol of the State's potential. On display one found an astounding array of the State's natural resources, invention and ingenuity. There were four examples of billiard tables, cabinets filled with curiosities, samples of the state's minerals, a bountiful display of the State's finest flowers, fruits and vegetables; a fire engine, fancy articles such as needlework, fabrics and laces, and art — from the Nahl brothers, William Jewitt, and many others. The first fair lasted for nearly four weeks and had about 10,000 visitors (roughly 25% of the adult San Francisco population at the time). There were 650 different exhibitors with approximately 25% of them being women. Ultimately there would be 31 fairs between 1857–1899 which would contribute greatly to the economy and industrial pursuits of the San Francisco Bay Area. These fairs, and the rental of the fair buildings, were income generators for the Institute and supported its library and other services." (See Taryn Edwards, Mechanics' Institute Library and Chess Room.org, "Mechanics' Institute History," accessed 02/13/2019.)

Building Notes

An article in the Weaverville [CA] Trinity Journal of 09/19/1857, described the Industrial Fair pavilion that opened to the public on Tuesday, 09/15/1857: "Preceded by an appropriate address by Mr. Williams and the reading of a poem by Mr. Pollock at Musical Hall, the evening previous, the doors of the Mechanics' Industrial Fair were opened to the public on Tuesday last, and the pavilion was numerously visited during the day and evening. The building of the exhibition is probably the greatest attraction of the Fair. It is modelled after the design of the Crystal Palace, and covers an area of nearly thirty thousand feet. It is in the form of a Greek cross, surmounted in the centre by a large dome, covered, as the remainder of the structure, with heavy canvas, and from its numerous angles float the flags of the different nations. The sides of the building are of redwood, and the front, with substantial tendency to a gothic finish, and approached by a flight of a dozen steps extending across it, presents a fine appearance when viewed from Montogmery street. Of the interior of the building and the numerous specimens of the products of nature and art, we shall not attempt to speak in detail. The pillars, rafters and braces ware ornamented with flags, evergreens and flowers, and the walls on all sides are softened with an agreeable display of banners, pictures and embroidery, while in the centre of the pavilion stands a fine marble fountain beautiful in design and finish. The articles exposed consist of remarkable of interesting products of the mines, workshops, gardens, vineyards and studios of California, and although there is little astonishing from either on exhibition there, the whole collections if creditable to the soil, ingenuity and industry of the State. A station of the State Telegraph Company, the wires of which connect all their offices in the interior, occupies a prominent position in the pavilion, and messages are transmitted to and from it at one-half the usual rates. At night the building is brilliantly lighted with gas, which enables articles to be as critically inspected as at noon day. The price of admission is fifty cents,--just double what it should be,---but we doubt the managers will soon acknowledge the policy of reducing it to twenty-five." The article was signed "Golden Era." (See “The Industrial Fair,” Weaverville [CA] Trinity Journal, 09/19/1857, p. 3. See Jim Thunder, Gothic-Calif Survey — PART 1 Chronicling America 04/2021–rev. 02/2023, [manuscript of notes and clippings], p. 4. Manuscript sent from Mr. Thunder to the author on 03/02/2023. Many thanks to him for his diligent survey of early Gothic architecture in California.)

Demolition

The Crocker Galleria stands on the site of the Mechanics' Pavilion #1.

PCAD id: 22720