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All the United States California San Francisco Spreckels Temple of Music
AO Edited

Spreckels Temple of Music

An elaborate gift from Claus Spreckels is now a piece of San Francisco history.

San Francisco, California

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  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Mild winter time photo   jyackabonis / Atlas Obscura User
Spreckles Temple of Music at Golden Gate Park Nov 15 2024   misszon / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Erected in 1900 at the music concourse established for the 1894 California Midwinter Exposition, the classically inspired band shell was a gift to the city from sugar mogul Claus Spreckels. 

The building was designed by the firm of Reid Bros., the architects responsible for numerous landmark buildings in San Francisco including the First Congregational Church and the Fairmont Hotel. Damaged first in the 1906 earthquake and then again in 1989's Loma Prieta, the temple was most recently restored in 1994, with a complete seismic makeover. Today the bandshell, as it is commonly referred to, is the oldest structure at the music concourse, with the exception of a few remaining original statues dating to the Midwinter Exposition.

The temple is now a popular feature of Golden Gate park, used for picnics and Sunday afternoon band concerts. 

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Edited By

breaingram, misszon, jyackabonis

  • breaingram
  • misszon
  • jyackabonis

Published

October 12, 2012

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Sources
  • http://www.sfpix.com/park/history/bandshell/history1.html
  • http://www.traditional-building.com/Previous-Issues-09/OctoberProject09Carey.html
Spreckels Temple of Music
Spreckels Temple of Music
Music Concourse, Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, California, 94118
United States
37.769892, -122.468548
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