wnp25.0982

California near Montgomery

January 1, 1959

View west from center of California above Montgomery, probably from cable car, looking up Nob Hill to Old St. Mary's Church, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (later Ritz-Carlton), Mark Hopkins and Fairmont Hotels. At right, Financial Center Building (1927), later Omni Hotel, with lower stories modernized with stone sheathing. Empty lot with pedestrian safety structure at 550 California, site of Occidental Life Insurance Co. Building, completed 1960. Uphill from construction side is Home Insurance Company Building (around this time, Fireman's Fund) completed 1951 and demolished in 1983. On left, at Kearny corner, construction or demolition is underway for the International Building (601 California).