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| Landmark #80 | San Francisco County | Visited: February 23, 2013 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque in the lobby of the Transamerica Pyramid! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: This is the site of San Francisco’s first fireproof building, erected in 1853 by Henry Wager Halleck. It was the headquarters for many outstanding lawyers, financiers, writers, actors, and artists. James King of William, editor of the Bulletin, died here on May 14, 1856 after being shot by James Casey. This building escaped destruction in the fire of 1906.
OTHER TIDBITS: At the time, this four-story building was the tallest west of the Mississippi! Its builder, Henry Wager Halleck, was deeply linked to California’s and America’s history! He was a director of the Almaden Quicksilver Company, president of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and an enthusiastic collector of California memorabilia! As military secretary of state, he had been one of the principal authors of California’s state constitution, who married the granddaughter of Alexander Hamilton and served as General-in-Chief for the Union armies during the Civil War! After the war, he accompanied Eadweard Muybridge to the new northern territories purchased from Russia and shares credit with Senator Charles Sumner for giving Alaska its name! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 600 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94111 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~380mi (612km) — 6.4hrs |
| When should I go? | Supposedly the Pyramid is off-limits to the public, but no one questioned me when I walked in. Just be sure to visit during a reasonable time of day and be respectful if anyone asks! |