Folger Coffee Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Folger Coffee Company Building
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![]() The building in 2023
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Location | 101 Howard St., San Francisco, California |
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Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1904 |
Architect | Schulze, Henry A. |
Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 96000679 |
Added to NRHP | June 21, 1996 |
The Folger Coffee Company Building is a historic office building in San Francisco, California. It is located at 101 Howard Street in the city's Financial District. This building has a rich history and is known for its unique design and strength.
Contents
History of the Building
Early Days and Design
The Folger Coffee Company Building was built in 1904. It has five floors plus a basement. The building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style. This style often includes grand, classic features like those found in old European buildings.
It was originally the main office for J. A. Folger & Company, a famous coffee company. The company used this building as its headquarters for many years, until 1963. At that time, Folger's Coffee was bought by another large company called Procter & Gamble.
Surviving Earthquakes
One amazing thing about the Folger Building is how strong it is. It survived two major earthquakes in San Francisco. The first was the huge 1906 earthquake, and the second was the 1989 earthquake.
The building was able to withstand these powerful quakes because of how it was built. Its foundation rests on strong wooden poles, called pilings. These pilings were driven deep into the ground, about 40 feet down. This special construction helped the building stay standing when the ground shook.
New Ownership
On August 2, 2011, the University of San Francisco bought the Folger Building. They paid almost $37 million for it. This purchase was important because it brought the university back to its roots in the downtown area of San Francisco. Today, the building continues to be an important part of the city's history and landscape.
The Folger Coffee Company Building was officially recognized as a historic place on June 21, 1996. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.