Scott, Irving Murray, School
Also known as: I.M. Scott School
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Why it's listed
Built in 1895 in San Francisco's Potrero Hill district, this two-story wood-frame school at 1060 Tennessee Street is described as the oldest surviving public school building in the city and the only one from the 19th century. It was named for Irving Murray Scott, a principal owner of the Union Iron Works and a local benefactor. The school served a working-class neighborhood near the industrial waterfront, and it was the first public school in the city to include facilities for teaching cooking, along with carpentry. Its Classical Revival details include fluted pilasters, bracketed cornices and ornamental wood trim, and the exterior has been repaired with redwood siding to match the original. The school taught grammar classes until 1975, apart from a wartime break when it housed production training. Since 1979 it has been leased as a community center, though much of the interior remains in poor condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest surviving public school building in San Francisco and the only one dating to the 19th century. It is described as a notable example of Classical Revival design that retains its late 19th century appearance. It was also the first public school in the city with facilities for teaching cooking.
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 85000714, listed April 11, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1060 Tennessee St., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | April 11, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000714 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Leased from the school district to a community development corporation and used as a community center; the exterior has been repaired, but the interior is in disrepair and only about half the space is usable. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.75851, -122.38964 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 85000714.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107283493
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.