List of San Francisco Designated Landmarks facts for kids

Three San Francisco Designated Landmarks along Montgomery Street: the Golden Era Building (left), the Genella Building (center), and the Belli Building (right). The Transamerica Pyramid is in the background.

San Francisco is a city full of amazing history, and many of its special buildings and places are called San Francisco Designated Landmarks. These are important spots that the city wants to protect so they don't get changed too much. Since 1967, San Francisco has officially named 318 buildings or areas as landmarks. Many of these places are also recognized by the United States government as National Historic Places or National Historic Landmarks, which means they are important to the whole country!

What Makes a Landmark Special?
- Understanding Landmark Types
Cool San Francisco Landmarks to Explore
San Francisco's Special Landmark Areas
Images for kids
See Also

What Makes a Landmark Special?

When a building or place becomes a San Francisco Designated Landmark, it means it has a unique story or a special look that makes it important to the city's history and culture. The city has rules to make sure these landmarks are kept safe and beautiful for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.

Understanding Landmark Types

Some landmarks are extra special and have different levels of recognition. Here's what the colors in the tables mean:

	This means it's a National Historic Landmark, important to the whole country!
	This means it's on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, also important nationally.
	This means it's a California Historical Landmark, special to the state.
	This means it's a San Francisco Designated Landmark, important to the city.

Cool San Francisco Landmarks to Explore

San Francisco has many incredible landmarks. Here are a few examples that show the city's rich history and unique architecture:

#	Name	Image	Address	Date Designated	Description	Type
1	Mission Dolores	Mission Dolores	320 Dolores Street	April 11, 1968	This is the oldest building in San Francisco, founded way back in 1776! It's a beautiful example of early California history.	NRHP
21	San Francisco City Hall	San Francisco City Hall	1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place	March 13, 1970	This grand building is where the city's government works. It has a huge dome and amazing architecture.	NHL
33	Columbus Tower (Sentinel Building)	Columbus Tower (Sentinel Building)	916–920 Kearny Street	June 13, 1970	This unique, green, wedge-shaped building was built in 1907 and survived the big 1906 earthquake and fire!	SFDL
50	Conservatory of Flowers	Conservatory of Flowers	100 John F. Kennedy Memorial Drive	December 4, 1972	Located inside Golden Gate Park, this beautiful greenhouse is filled with rare and exotic plants from all over the world.	NRHP
69	Haas-Lilienthal House	Haas-Lilienthal House	2007 Franklin Street	January 4, 1975	This is a stunning Victorian-era mansion that gives you a peek into how wealthy San Franciscans lived long ago.	NRHP
73	Lotta's Fountain	Lotta's Fountain	Pedestrian Island, at Intersection of Market, Geary and Kearny Streets	July 19, 1975	This historic fountain is a famous meeting spot and a reminder of the city's past.	NRHP
90	Ferry Building	San Francisco Ferry Building	1 Ferry Building	July 9, 1977	This iconic building stands at the end of Market Street and is a busy hub for ferries and a marketplace.	NRHP
100	Castro Theatre	Castro Theatre	429 Castro Street	September 3, 1977	A historic movie palace known for its grand interior and showing classic films.	SFDL
165	Lillie Hitchcock Coit Tower	Coit Tower	1 Telegraph Hill Boulevard	January 1, 1984	This famous tower sits atop Telegraph Hill and offers amazing views of the city and the bay.	NRHP
222	Golden Gate Bridge	Golden Gate Bridge	At the Presidio, U.S. Highway 101 and California Highway 1	May 21, 1999	One of the most famous bridges in the world, known for its stunning orange color and incredible views.	CHISL
228	City Lights Bookstore	City Lights Bookstore	261–271 Columbus Avenue	August 26, 2001	A legendary independent bookstore that has been a center for writers and artists for many years.	SFDL
236	Old San Francisco Mint	Old San Francisco Mint	88 5th Street	February 21, 2003	This impressive building was once where money was made for the United States.	NHL
254	Doggie Diner sign	Doggie Diner sign	Median strip of Sloat Boulevard and 45th Avenue	August 11, 2006	This fun, quirky sign with a giant dachshund head is a beloved piece of San Francisco history.	SFDL

San Francisco's Special Landmark Areas

Besides individual buildings, San Francisco also has "Landmark Districts." These are whole neighborhoods or areas that have a special historical or architectural style. The city protects these districts to keep their unique character.

#	Name	Image	Size	Year Designated	Description
1	Jackson Square	Jackson Square	8 Blocks, 82 Parcels	1972	This is one of the oldest commercial areas in the city, with buildings from the 1850s and 1860s.
3	Northeast Waterfront	Northeast Waterfront	9 Blocks, 52 Parcels	1983	This area shows San Francisco's history as a busy port, from the Gold Rush to World War II.
4	Alamo Square	Alamo Square	16 Blocks, 281 Parcels	1984	Famous for its "Painted Ladies" – beautiful, colorful Victorian and Edwardian houses.
6	Telegraph Hill	Telegraph Hill	6 Blocks, 90 Parcels	1986	This hilly neighborhood has many old buildings and narrow streets, some only for walking!
10	Civic Center	San Francisco City Hall	15 Blocks, 61 Parcels	1996	This area has grand, official buildings like City Hall, all designed in a fancy classical style around a big open space.
11	Dogpatch	Dogpatch	9 Blocks, 131 Parcels	2003	One of the oldest neighborhoods where industrial workers lived, located near Potrero Hill.

Images for kids

Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
Bank of California Building
Saint Patrick's Church
Saint Francis of Assisi Church
Holy Cross Parish Hall
Audiffred Building
South San Francisco Opera House
Belli Building (Langerman's Building)
Genella Building (Belli Annex)
Hotaling Stables Building
Hotaling Building
Hotaling Annex East
Medico-Dental Building
Ghirardelli Building
Ghirardelli Annex-Jackson Street
Colonial Dames Octagon House
Palace Hotel and Garden Court Room
Golden Era Building
Hotaling Annex West
Solari Building (Old French Consulate)
Yeon Building
Moulinie Building
Bank of Lucas, Turner & Co.
Grogan-Lent-Atherton Building
Old Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Old Fire House, Engine 22
Ghirardelli Square
Burr Mansion
Abner Phelps House
Original United States Mint and Subtreasury
Stadtmuller House
Feusier Octagon House
Hallidie Building
Bourn Mansion
St. Francis Lutheran Church
First Unitarian Church
Saint Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
Dennis T. Sullivan Memorial Fire Chief's Home
Cable Car Barn and Power House
Donaldina Cameron House
Leale House
House of the Flag
Nightingale House
Charles Dietle House
Sherman House
Casebolt House
Transamerica Building (Old Fugazi Bank Building)
Wormser-Coleman House
Edward Coleman House
Lilienthal-Orville Pratt House
Roos House
Talbot–Dutton House
Merryvale Antiques
Haslett Warehouse
Hunters Point Springs and Albion Brewery
Sylvester House
Mish House
Quinn House
Flood Mansion (Pacific Union Club)
Trinity Church
Stanyan House
Tanforan Cottage #1
Tanforan Cottage #2
Atherton House
Goodman Building
V.C. Morris Building
Frank M. Stone House
California Historical Society (Whittier Mansion)
Mills Building and Tower
Samuels Clock
Sunnyside Conservatory
Miller-Joost House
Alfred E. Clarke Mansion
Bush Street Temple (Soto Mission)
Geary Theater
St. John's Presbyterian Church
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
San Francisco Art Institute
Jessie Street Substation
Palace of Fine Arts
Old Firehouse, Engine Company No. 2 and Truck No. 6
Gibb-Sanborn Warehouse (Trinidad Bean and Elevator Company)
Gibb-Sanborn Warehouse (Pelican Paper)
Old Firehouse, Engine Company No. 23
Orpheum Theatre
Koshland House
Francis Scott Key Monument
Atkinson House
Ortman-Shumate House
Schoenstein Organ
Italian Swiss Colony Building
Calvary Presbyterian Church (Sanctuary)
Independent Wood Company Building (Cargo West)
Market Street Railway Substation
Chambord Apartments
Rincon Annex
State Armory and Arsenal
Borel & Co.
Italian American Bank
Family Service Agency
Rothschild House
San Francisco Mining Exchange
Beltline Railroad Roundhouse Complex
Health Sciences Library
St. Paulus Lutheran Church
Hammersmith Building
B'nai David Synagogue
Chambers Mansion
St. Joseph's Church
Julius' Castle
Clay Street Center/Chinese Historical Society of America
John McMullen House
Sharon Building
Havens Mansion and Carriage House
Bransten House
Clunie House
Bauer & Schweitzer Malting Company
Hibernia Bank
Union Trust Branch of Wells Fargo Bank
Savings Union Branch of Security Pacific National Bank
Axford House
Mechanics' Institute, San Francisco
Westerfeld House
Kershaw House
Notre Dame des Victoires School
Irving M. Scott School
St. Charles School
High School of Commerce
Home Telephone Company
PG&E Old Station J
Fire Department Old Station No. 2
Hoffman Grill
Buich Building
Jack's Restaurant
Dutch Windmill
Edwin Klockars' Blacksmith Shop
Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall
Archbishop's Mansion
Don Lee Building
Earle C. Anthony Packard Showroom
Flood Building
Flatiron Building
Phelan Building
Hills Bros. Coffee Plant
Federal Reserve Bank Building
Gaylord Hotel
Royal Insurance Building
Kohl Building
Hobart Building
Sharon Building
McMorry-Lagen House
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Metropolitan Life Insurance Building
William Vale House
Campfire Golden Gate Council Headquarters
Grace Cathedral Close
Refugee Shack
St. Boniface Church and Rectory
Notre Dame des Victoires Church and Rectory
California Hall
McLaren Lodge
Cadillac Hotel
First Congregational Church
Mission Turn Hall
Beach Chalet
S.F.& S.M. Railway Co. Office Building
Lawn Bowling Clubhouse and Greens
Theodore Green Apothecary
Crown Zellerbach Building
Mark Hopkins Hotel
Fairmont Hotel
David Lewis House
Engine Co. No. 37, Truck Co. No. 9
Engine Co. No. 8, Truck Co. No. 4
Frank G. Edwards House
Charles L. Hinkel House and Carriage House
Oakley Residence and Flats
Southern Pacific Company Hospital Complex
Baker and Hamilton Building
Lefty O'Doul Bridge
Islam Temple (Alcazar Theater)
Alfred G. Hanson Residence
Spreckels Mansion
Richard E. Queen House
Jackson Brewery Complex
Path of Gold Light Standards
Park Emergency Hospital
Golden Gate Commandery of Knights Templar (Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church)
George Gibbs Residence and caretaker's cottage
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
Balboa High School
Howard/26th Street Cottages
Ellinwood Residence
McCormick House
Odd Fellows Columbarium
Murphy Windmill and Millwright's Cottage
Madame C.J. Walker Home for Girls and Women
Columbia Savings Bank Building
Joseph Leonard/Cecil F. Poole House
El Capitan Theatre and Hotel
Victoria Theatre
Milo Hoadley Residence
Alhambra Theater
North End Police Station and Garage
Mount Davidson Monument
Former Engine House No. 31
Former Shriners Hospital
Carmel Fallon Building
Schubert Hall
Fireboat House
Washington Square
The Castro Camera and the Harvey Milk Residence
Laguna Honda Station / Forest Hill Station
Filbert Street Cottages (Bush Cottages and the School of Basic Design and Color)
Golden Triangle Light Standards
Carnegie Mission Branch Library
Carnegie Chinatown Branch Library
Colombo Building
Labor Temple-Redstone Building
Carnegie Sunset Library
Carnegie Presidio Library
Jose Theater/Names Project Building
Infant Shelter
Old Chronicle Building
Garfield Building
New Mission Theater
James Lick Baths/People's Laundry Building
Carnegie Richmond Branch Library
Juvenile Court and Detention Home
Golden Gate Park Music Concourse
Shipwright's Cottage
Glazer-Keating House
Saint Brigid Church
Richard P. Doolan-Norman T. Larson Residence and Storefronts
Mission High School
Richardson Hall
Carnegie Noe Valley Branch Library
Tobin House
Metro Theatre
Appleton & Wolfard Libraries
Sam Jordan's Bar
Twin Peaks Tavern
Doelger Building
Marcus Books and Jimbo's Bop City
Swedish American Hall
R. L. Goldberg Building
University Mound Ladies Home
Cowell House
Bourdette Building
Alemany Emergency Hospital and Health Building
Ingleside Presbyterian Church and The Great Cloud of Witnesses
El Rey Theatre
Third Baptist Church Complex
Arthur H. Coleman Medical Center
Hotel Utah
Theodore Roosevelt Middle School
Sunshine School
Paper Doll
Kinmon Gakuen
Japanese YWCA/Issei Women’s Building
Ingleside Terraces Sundial and Sundial Park
San Francisco Eagle Bar
Crocker National Bank Building
"Allegory of California" fresco
Golden Gate Valley Carnegie Library
Trocadero Clubhouse
Clay Theatre
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
Mother’s Building
Site of the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot
St. James Presbyterian Church
Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples
Parkside Branch Library
Grand Theater
Gregangelo Museum
Rainbow Flag Installation at Harvey Milk Plaza
San Francisco Ladies Protection and Relief Society