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Sustainable Preservation: California’s Statewide Historic Preservation Plan, 2013-2017

Preservation Success Story—Bayview Opera House
Built in 1888 by South San Francisco Masonic Lodge Number 212 as a performance hall
adjoining their lodge, the 300-seat South San Francisco Opera House (now known as the
Bayview Opera House) was the first cultural building
in the neighborhood and served for decades as the
social hub of the Bayview-Hunters Point district. The
project to restore the Bayview Opera House received
a Governor’s Historic Preservation Award in 2011.
The San Francisco Arts Commission, which owns the
building, and the
tenant organization,
Bayview Opera House
Incorporated,
completed the project
to restore the
damaged proscenium
and uncovered the
hall’s original 1888 Neighborhood children pose in
Douglas fir floor front of the restored opera house.
(which was thought to (Photo courtesy Rebecca Gallegos)
have been replaced
with plywood). In 2004 the building received a Save
America’s Treasures grant to restore the theater’s
hardwood floors. Also, as required by the Save America’s
Treasures grant, the building was listed on the National
Register and a conservation easement was donated to
The beautifully restored floor
features prominently in this San Francisco Architectural Heritage, activities which
shot of the theater and stage. necessitated additional grants from the City of San
Francisco’s Historic Preservation Fund.
Centrally located along the main
commercial corridor, the Bayview Opera
House is well situated to become the
main hub for cultural activities in the
neighborhood. The brilliantly restored
floor of the main auditorium has
transformed this 122-year-old Italianate
Victorian building from a dilapidated
facility to an elegant venue worthy of the
pride of the community. Today, the
Bayview Opera House is again a
community cultural center in San
Francisco’s most underserved
neighborhood, and the slow rise of this
building to its current splendor is a
project to be celebrated, appreciated, A dance and musical performance features
local youth.
and applauded.

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