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Building History

Serving the booming Gold Rush port of San Francisco, CA, this was the smaller of two Customs Houses existing on a triangular parcel of government land between Sansome Street and Battery Street; the parcel's hypotenuse faced the Embarcadero; the second building--erected on the site of the first--was largely erected after the Great San Francisco Earthquake in 04/1906; construction lasted between 1906-1911.

The planning of the Custom House #1 in San Francisco triggered real estate speculation on lots nearby to it. In 08/1851, a classified ad appeared in the Daily Alta Californianewspaper indicating that several lots near the site of the Custom House would be for sale: "On Saturday, August 16th, at 12 o’clock. Will sell at the California Exchange, the following very desirable city property: One Lot in square 318, bounded by Sansome, Broadway, Pacific and Battery streets, 25 feet front on Sansome street by a depth of 70 feet. Two lots in the same square, fronting 20 feet on Broadway by a depth of 70 feet. This is among the most valuable city property, and is situate in a part rapidly improving. The new Custom House is to be within two squares of this property, which will render it of great value for mercantile houses.” (See "On Saturday, August 16th, at 12 o’clock" classified ad, Daily Alta California, vol. 2, no. 241, 08/09/1851, p. 3.)

PCAD id: 4794