Hall of Justice (San Francisco) facts for kids

The San Francisco Hall of Justice is an important building in San Francisco. It has been the main office for the San Francisco Police Department and the San Francisco County Superior Court. This building, finished in 1960, is the third one to be called the Hall of Justice in the city's history. It is located between Sixth, Seventh, and Bryant streets.

Quick facts for kids Thomas J. Cahill Hall of Justice
Aerial view of the San Francisco Hall of Justice complex. View facing northwest, with Bryant Street in the foreground and I-80 in the background.
Alternative names	850 Bryant The Hall
General information
Address	850 Bryant St
Coordinates	37°46′32″N 122°24′14″W / 37.77544°N 122.40394°W / 37.77544; -122.40394
Construction started	September 11, 1958 (1958-09-11)
Completed	1960
Owner	City of San Francisco
Technical details
Material	granite-clad reinforced concrete
Floor count	7
Design and construction
Architecture firm	Weihe, Frick, & Kruse
Structural engineer	Hall, Pregnoff & Matheu
Renovating team
Renovating firm	John Carl Warnecke & Associates (1979 Coroner's Office extension) San Francisco Bureau of Architecture (1985 Rooftop gymnasium)
Engineer	Donald Bentley & Associates (1979) Nishkian, Hamill & Associates (1979) Shapiro, Okino, Hom & Associates (1985)

History of the Hall of Justice

The Hall of Justice has a long and interesting history. There have been three different buildings in San Francisco that served this important role.

The First Hall of Justice (1900–1906)

Hall of Justice (1900)

Before the earthquake

After the earthquake

The first Hall of Justice before and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake

The very first Hall of Justice was built between 1896 and 1900. It was located near Portsmouth Square. This building actually started as a theater called the Jenny Lind Theatre in 1851. The city bought it in 1852 to use as the City Hall.

While a new City Hall was being built, the old Jenny Lind building was turned into the Hall of Justice. People joked about how slow the work was, calling it "The Haul of Justice." Some residents even blamed the building's tall tower when a health issue broke out nearby. The building was finally finished in 1900. However, it was badly damaged by the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the fires that followed.

The Second Hall of Justice (1912–1961)

After the earthquake, a second Hall of Justice was built in the same spot. It was designed by city architect Newton J. Tharp and finished in 1912. This building became quite famous. Its unique fan-shaped windows on the fourth floor appeared in many TV shows from the 1950s and 1960s, like The Lineup and Ironside.

Famous writers like Dashiell Hammett and James Patterson also mentioned this Hall of Justice in their books. This second building was used until 1961. It was then taken down in 1968 to make way for a new hotel, the Hilton San Francisco Financial District, which stands there today.

The Current Hall of Justice (1960–Present)

Front of the San Francisco Hall Of Justice.

The current Hall of Justice is located at 850 Bryant Street. It was built between 1958 and 1960. For many years, until 2015, this building was the main office for the San Francisco Police Department. People often call it "850 Bryant" or simply "the hall."

Today, this building is still very important. It houses parts of the San Francisco Sheriff's Department. It also has facilities for the San Francisco County Superior Court. In 1994, the building was renamed the Thomas J. Cahill Hall of Justice. This was to honor Thomas J. Cahill, who was the Chief of the San Francisco Police Department from 1958 to 1970.

The Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street also contains some of the city's jail facilities. Until 2017, it was also where the city's medical examiner's office and morgue were located. Those offices have since moved to a new building in the Bayview area of the city.