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See vintage photos of San Francisco’s Ferry Building on its 125th anniversary

A archival photo of a screets scene on Market Street that includes cars from the 1950s and the SF Ferry Building
The Ferry Building is pictured from Market and California streets in San Francisco in 1951. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
By RJ Mickelson

San Francisco’s Ferry Building is 125 years old this week, and it has seen much in its time. It confidently survived both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes with minor damage. It stood proudly while both World Wars raged abroad. The building has also endured major renovations to its Grande Nave and refurbishments to its centerpiece, the clock tower. Its physical, towering stature along the Embarcadero commands the waterfront and serves as a handsome entry point to Downtown.

Aside from the Golden Gate Bridge, it may be the most photographed landmark in San Francisco. Here’s a look at the evolution and survival of one of San Francisco’s most iconic buildings.

Cable cars and horse-drawn carriages stand idle in front of the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero in San Francisco in 1898, the year the building opened. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
An interior view shows the passenger concourse on the second level of the Ferry Building circa 1910. | Source: | Courtesy OpenSFHistory/Martin Behrman Negative Collection
Two women with suitcases and parcels pose outside the Ferry Building in San Francisco in 1915. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
People stand near damaged train tracks across from the Ferry Building and the Embarcadero in San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake and fire. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
Seagulls fly over the wake of a boat in the bay with the Ferry Building and the San Francisco skyline in the background in early 1906. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
Clouds of smoke rise from the Embarcadero and Downtown San Francisco behind the Ferry Building during the 1906 fire on April 18, 1906. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
Temporary railroad tracks are laid on the south side of Market Street near Beale Street with the Ferry Building in the background on June 8, 1906, less than two months after the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
A Municipal Railway C-Line streetcar rides down the center of Market Street in San Francisco toward Spear Street with Ferry Building in the background on July 26, 1923. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/SF Department of Public Works
Soldiers stand near tents at Washington Street just north of the Ferry Building following the 1906 earthquake. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory
Attendees gather at the membership registration area for the National Education Association Convention in the Ferry Building in San Francisco in July 1911. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Marilyn Blaisdell Collection
The Ferry Building, pictured from Steuart and Market streets, is decorated for the Portola Festival in San Francisco in October 1909. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory
The Ferry Building is seen from near Sacramento and Drumm streets on a rainy night in San Francisco on Nov. 19, 1935. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory
A family crosses the Ferry Building Pedestrian Bridge over the Embarcadero at Market Street in San Francisco in the 1930s. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection
A view east toward the Ferry Building and Ferry Loop shows the old pedestrian overpass and vehicle underpass in San Francisco on Feb 23, 1926. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory
A view from Russian Hill shows the Ferry Building with Bay Bridge in the background in August 1946. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory
The Ferry Building is seen in the distance as parked cars line the middle of Market Street during the Municipal Railway Strike in San Francisco on Feb. 20, 1952. The strike lasted from Feb. 17 to Feb. 23, 1952. | Source: Courtesy SFOpenHistory/Emiliano Echeverria
People ride in an REO automobile on the Embarcadero just south of the Ferry Building circa 1925. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
Pedestrians pass in front of a B-Line streetcar with the Ferry Building in the background in San Francisco in 1934. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory/Emiliano Echeverria/Randolph Brandt Collection
The Ferry Building in San Francisco is outlined in electric lights with the year ‘1925' on the clock tower on Sep. 25, 1925. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
The Ferry Building looms over the Embarcadero Freeway, left to right, and the Washington Street ramp, right, in San Francisco in 1970. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory
Tailights of cars streaking by the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero Freeway in 1973. | Source: Courtesy OpenSFHistory/Greg Gaar Photography

RJ Mickelson can be reached at rj@sfstandard.com

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ArchitectureArts & EntertainmentDowntownEmbarcaderoFerry BuildingLife