palace of fine arts - sf, jan 2010

The task of creating Palace of Fine Arts for

the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition

fell to architect, Bernard R. Maybeck.

The Panama-Pacific International Exposition 1915

was an event dedicated to progress,

the celebration of the completion the Panama Canal,

and the rebirth of San Francisco

following the disastrous 1906 earthquake.

Funds came from six million dollars in donations,

five million in state bonds

and five million in San Francisco taxes.

The Palace of Fine Arts was the last of the major buildings of the Exposition to be started; construction began in 8 December 1913.

By the closing of the Exposition, a movement to preserve the Palace

was already under way,
signatures and money were gathered from the fine arts league.

For a while the Palace housed a continuous art exhibit,

and when the depression came, W.P.A. artists were commissioned

to replace the deteriorated murals on the ceiling rotunda.

But as time went by, a strange new life evolved for the exhibition hall.

In 1934, eighteen lighted tennis courts were installed and

remained there for eight years.

During this period, the Palace, without proper maintenance and

as a result of vandalism, was gradually crumbling into a genuine ruin.

Then during World War II it was requisitioned by the Army

for storage of trucks and jeeps.
Two years after the War's end,

the Palace was returned by the Army to the city.

By now, it had been declared unsafe of public use.

Then began a forceful attempt to preserve it as it was -

designed as a ruin, it should remain one.

But the building was not strong enough to last.

When Maybeck's opinion was solicited, he had this to say:

"I think the main building should be torn down and

redwood planted around, completely around the rotunda.

Redwood grows fast, you know.

Then as they grow, the columns of the rotunda would slowly crumble,

at approximately the same speed. Then I would like to design an alter,

with the figure of a maiden praying, to install in that grove of redwoods.

I shall like my Palace to die

behind those great trees of its own accord,

to become its own cemetery."

In the meantime, from 1947 on, the hall continued to be put to various uses;

as City Park Department warehouse,

as a flag and tent storage depot and

even as temporary Fire Department Headquarters.

For several years, Assemblyman Caspar Weinberger, supported by other prominent San Franciscans, had patiently pushed the cause of the Palace.

Finally between 1957 and 1959, his efforts were rewarded.

Funds from California State Legislature, the city and Palace of fine Arts League,

supplemented by a most generous $2,000,000 donation

(an later an additional donation of approximately $2,500,000)

from Walter S. Johnson, as well as large contributions from

other concerned residents of the city, saved the life of the Palace.

By 1962, a plan for its restoration in concrete had been

approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

The work of demolition and reconstruction began in 1964.

The exhibition hall which originally housed Impressionist
paintings during the Exposition, is now home to the Exploratorium,

a state of the art interactive science museum.