Pier One
Why it's listed
Pier One sits on the east side of The Embarcadero at the foot of Washington Street in San Francisco. Completed in 1931, it has two parts: a two-story neo-classical bulkhead of cement plaster over wood framing, and a long cast-in-place concrete pier shed built for moving cargo between ships, trains and trucks. The bulkhead's central arch once let trains pass through to the pier apron, and its design was modeled on the Chelsea Piers in New York. It housed the Port's Chief Wharfinger and a cafe, while the shed was leased to the Bay and River Navigation Company, which carried refined sugar around the Bay until 1963. The building is recognized for its role in the port's commerce and transportation between 1931 and 1948, and as a late example of the City Beautiful waterfront plan led by the State Board of Harbor Commissioners. Today the bulkhead holds a restaurant and offices, and the shed serves as a parking garage.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it reflects San Francisco's maritime transportation and commerce in the early 20th century, including use by a sugar-shipping company and as overflow berths for ferries. It is also a representative example of the City Beautiful-influenced waterfront improvements planned by the Harbor Commissioners in 1915, and one of the last built under that plan.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98001551, listed January 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Pier One, The Embarcadero (at Washington St.), San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | January 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1931 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Board of State Harbor Commissioners |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Bulkhead holds a restaurant and offices; the pier shed is used as a parking garage. Described as largely unchanged since 1931 but suffering from corroding reinforcement and spalling concrete. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Within district | Jackson Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.79745, -122.39404 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98001551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q66078388
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.