Palace Hotel: A Dominating Presence in San Francisco

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we share glimpses of one of the most impressive ‘Gilded Age’ hotels in America.

Constructed of layers of light brick and stone, the Palace Hotel’s exterior ornamentations are many. Sculpted lion heads accentuate corbels over some windows and are embedded in the frieze. The frieze, which is under the roof-edge’s elaborate cornice, features classical Roman shell designs. Above the hotel’s classical display is the large, contrasting 1950s-era neon sign. Sergio TB/Shutterstock

In a satirical novel, Mark Twain coined the term “Gilded Age” to describe the time period from after the Civil War to the early 1900s. It was a season of invention, prosperity, affluence, and ingenuity for many Americans. Grand hotels were emblematic of this time period. One, aptly called the Palace Hotel, still dominates a corner at Market and New Montgomery streets in downtown San Francisco.

The current Palace Hotel replaced the “old” circa 1875 structure that was destroyed in the infamous fire caused by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The Palace Hotel, built on the same corner, was meant to be just as elegant and impressive as its predecessor. To continue its Gilded Age allure, architects added additional details to convey Renaissance Revivalism. Also referred to as Italian Renaissance, the architectural style incorporates centuries-old Italian design elements such as ornate arches, dramatic corridors, exaggerated cornices, and decorative moldings.