San Rafael Improvement Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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San Rafael Improvement Club
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 Location in California
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| Location | 1800 5th Ave., San Rafael, California |
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| Area | 0.6 acres (0.24 ha) |
| Built | 1915, 1916 |
| Architect | William B. Faville |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000907 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1984 |
The San Rafael Improvement Club building is a special place in San Rafael, California. It was built in 1915 and has a unique history. This building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history.
Contents
A Building with a Journey: From Fair to Clubhouse
The San Rafael Improvement Club building started its life in a different city! It was first built in 1915 for a huge event called the Panama–Pacific International Exposition. This was a big world's fair held in San Francisco.
What Was the Panama-Pacific Exposition?
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a large fair that celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. It also showed how San Francisco had recovered after a big earthquake in 1906. Millions of people visited this fair to see new inventions and amazing buildings.
The Building's First Job
At the fair, the building was known as the Victrola Pavilion. It was used by the Victrola company, which made record players. This pavilion was located inside a larger building called the Liberal Arts Palace.
Moving to San Rafael
After the fair ended in 1915, many of its buildings were taken down. But the Victrola Pavilion was special. It was carefully taken apart and moved across the bay to San Rafael. In 1916, it was put back together in its new home.
A New Purpose: The San Rafael Improvement Club
Once rebuilt, the building became the permanent home for the San Rafael Improvement Club. This club was a group of people who worked to make their community better. It was founded in 1902, before the building even arrived.
The Club and Its Members
The San Rafael Improvement Club was a civic organization. This means its members worked to improve their local community. They focused on things like education, public health, and social welfare.
Who Were the Members?
While the club's official description might not have said it, photos show that it was mainly a women's club. Women's clubs were very important in the early 1900s. They gave women a way to work together for social change and community improvement. These clubs helped women become leaders and make a difference in their towns.
Design and Architecture
The building is made of wood and is quite large, about 63 feet by 63 feet. It was designed by a famous architect named William B. Faville.
What is Classical Revival Style?
The building is designed in the Classical Revival style. This style takes inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. You can often see features like tall columns, grand entrances, and balanced shapes in this type of architecture. When the building was moved to San Rafael, a roof was added to make it a permanent clubhouse.
The Building's Later Years
Over time, the San Rafael Improvement Club eventually sold the building. For many years, from 1997 to at least 2018, the building was not used.
A Rare Survivor
It's interesting to know that this building is one of only two structures that still exist from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. The only other building still standing from that huge fair is the famous San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts. This makes the San Rafael Improvement Club building even more special and historically important.
