San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center facts for kids
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Beaux-Arts style War Memorial Veterans Building and courtyard park, seen from Van Ness Avenue.
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 San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
Location in San Francisco County
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
Location in California
San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
Location in the United States
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| Address | 401 Van Ness Ave #110 |
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| Location | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°46′44.83″N 122°25′13.64″W / 37.7791194°N 122.4204556°W |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | totals 7,500 seats |
| Opened | 1920 |
| Designated: | 1977 |
| Reference #: | 84 |
The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center (SFWMPAC) is a huge place in San Francisco, California. It's one of the biggest performing arts centers in the whole United States. Imagine a place where you can see amazing shows! This center covers about 7.5 acres, which is like 5 football fields. It has enough seats for 7,500 people to watch performances at the same time!
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What Kinds of Shows Can You See?
The SFWMPAC is a busy place for all kinds of performances. You can enjoy:
- Opera shows with beautiful singing
- Symphony concerts with large orchestras
- Exciting modern and classical dance performances
- Live theatre and plays
- Special recitals and lectures
- Even big meetings and fun parties!
It's a place where art and culture come alive.
A Look Back: The Center's History
The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center was built in the 1920s. It sits across from San Francisco City Hall. The name "War Memorial" honors everyone who served in the First World War. That war ended seven years before the center started being built.
A famous architect named Arthur Brown Jr designed the buildings between 1927 and 1928. They are some of the last buildings made in the beautiful Beaux-Arts style in the United States. The project created two main buildings: the War Memorial Opera House and the Veterans Building. Both opened in 1932.
From 1935 to 1994, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) was located on the upper floors of the Veterans Building. Later, in 1980, the new Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall opened. It became another important part of the SFWMPAC.
A Place of World History: The United Nations
The SFWMPAC has a very special place in world history. On June 26, 1945, something huge happened here. The United Nations Charter was signed in the Veterans Building's Herbst Theatre. This was after a two-month meeting of 50 countries in the Opera House. This charter created the United Nations, an organization that works for peace around the world.
In 1951, another important event took place. The Treaty of San Francisco, which officially ended World War II with Japan, was signed in the Opera House. Many U.S. presidents and leaders from other countries have visited the center. Since 1990, the center has also hosted the Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony every year. This prize honors people who work to protect our planet.
Where the Magic Happens: The Venues
The San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center is made up of several amazing performance spaces.
The War Memorial Opera House
The War Memorial Opera House is a grand building with 3,146 seats. It opened in 1932. Since then, it has been the home of the San Francisco Opera. It's also where the San Francisco Ballet performs its beautiful shows.
The Veterans Building
The Veterans Building holds several interesting spaces:
- The Herbst Theatre has 916 seats. It's a smaller hall perfect for concerts and talks. It was originally called the "Veterans Auditorium." This is the very place where the United Nations Charter was signed in 1945! It was updated and renamed in 1977.
- The Green Room is on the second floor. It was first designed as a lounge for soldiers from World War I. Today, it's used for concerts, parties, and meetings. It's also a popular spot for fashion photoshoots.
- The San Francisco Arts Commission Gallery is in the Veterans Building. It shows different kinds of modern art.
The Davies Symphony Hall
Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall opened in 1980. It has 2,743 seats and is the main symphony hall in the city. The San Francisco Symphony has performed here since it opened.
Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall
The Harold L. Zellerbach Rehearsal Hall is right next to Davies Symphony Hall. It has three different rehearsal rooms. These rooms are used for practicing shows and even for filming movies!
Images for kids
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SFWMPAC logo
