A brief history and fun facts.

2. San FranciscoSan Francisco City HallCity Hall
1912 – 19151912 – 1915
Constructed underConstructed under
MayorMayor
““Sunny”Sunny”
Jim Rolph, Jr.Jim Rolph, Jr.
19161916
City Hall opened toCity Hall opened to
the public inthe public in
March of 1916March of 1916
$5,408,000$5,408,000
City Hall costCity Hall cost
$5,408,000$5,408,000
(that’s over(that’s over
$400,000,000$400,000,000
in today’s dollars)in today’s dollars)

3. How big is City HallHow big is City Hall??
overover 500,000500,000 square feetsquare feet
occupiesoccupies two full blockstwo full blocks of San Franciscoof San Francisco

4. the dome is
307.6 feet
from the
base

5. what’s that I seewhat’s that I see ??
In the rotunda of City Hall…In the rotunda of City Hall…
• Walls are made of limestone from
Colorado
• Floor is made of pink marble from
Tennessee
• Ever notice the four medallions
symbolizing equality, strength, liberty
and learning? Just look up!
• In 1954, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn
Monroe wed in the rotunda!
In the Board of SupervisorsIn the Board of Supervisors
Chamber...Chamber...
• The wood paneling is carved from
Manchurian oak, which no longer
exists in the world!
• Benches and desks are made from
California oak
• Ceiling is cast plaster that’s made to
look like wood
• Notice the dahlias in the carpet
design? The dahlia is San Francisco’s
official flower.

6. 1999 Restoration
• The total construction
cost was $293 million
• Cost of the gold on the
dome was $400,000
• 600 base isolators
under the building
• Dome is supported by
1,200 tons of steel
The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 damaged City Hall’s
structure and twisted the dome four inches (102 mm) on
its base. Engineers recommended a base isolation
system to strengthen the building against future
damage.
During an earthquake, the dome acts as a pendulum.
The base isolation system separates the building from
the ground, thus disrupting seismic waves before they
can affect the structure.
A four-foot moat around the building allows it to move
side-to-side without being attached to the earth.
San Francisco's City Hall is currently the world's second
largest base-isolated structure (after the International
Terminal at San Francisco International Airport) –
a triumph of seismic retrofitting.
City Hall reopened after its seismic upgrade in January
of 1999.

7. did you know…??did you know…??