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Coordinates: 37°44′01″N 122°30′22″W / 37.733477°N 122.505978°W / 37.733477; -122.505978
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{{Short description|Former swimming pool in San Francisco, California}}
{{Infobox Historic building
{{Infobox building
⚫
|image = Fleishhacker Pool house.jpg
|caption =
| name = Fleishhacker Pool
| image = Fleishhacker_Swimming_Pool,_San_Francisco,_California_Postcard_(1932).jpg
⚫
|name = Fleishhacker Pool
⚫
| caption = Postcard of Fleishhacker Pool in 1932
⚫
|location_town = [[San Francisco, California]]
| location = Sloat Boulevard and Great Highway
⚫
|location_country = {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
| map_type = United States San Francisco County
⚫
|architect =
|client =
| map_caption = Location within San Francisco
|engineer =
| status = Destroyed
⚫
| location_town = [[San Francisco]], [[California]]
⚫
|construction_start_date= [[1924]]
⚫
| location_country = [[United States]]
⚫
|completion_date = [[1925]]
⚫
| architect = Earl Clements (Fleishhacker Pool)<br>
⚫
|date_demolished = [[2000]]
Clarence R. Ward and J. Harry Blohme (pool building and bath house)
|cost =
| coordinates = {{coord|37.733477|-122.505978|region:US-CA_type:landmark|display=it}}
|structural_system=
⚫
| construction_start_date= 1924
|style =
⚫
| completion_date = 1925
|
⚫
| date_demolished = 2000
⚫
| cost =
| style = [[Mediterranean Revival architecture|Mediterranean Revival]]
| embedded = {{Infobox NRHP | embed=yes
| name =
| nrhp_type =
| image =
| added = December 31, 1979
| refnum=79000529
}}
}}
}}
'''Fleishhacker Pool''', the largest swimming pool in the [[United States]], was located in the far southwest corner of the city of [[San Francisco, California]] next to the [[San Francisco Zoo|zoo]] for 47 years.
'''Fleishhacker Pool''' was a public saltwater swimming pool complex, located in the southwest corner of [[San Francisco]], [[California]], [[United States]], next to the [[San Francisco Zoo]] at [[Sloat Boulevard]] and the [[Great Highway]]. Upon its completion in 1925, it was one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the world; it remained open for more than four decades until its closure in 1971. It was demolished in 2000.

⚫
== Construction ==

The Fleishhacker Pool and the Fleishhacker Playfield complex were built by [[philanthropist]] and [[civic engagement|civic]] leader [[Herbert Fleishhacker]] in 1924, and opened on April 22, 1925. The pool measured {{convert|1000|by|150|ft|abbr=off|sp=us|-1}} and held {{convert|6500000|usgal|L|abbr=off|sp=us}} of [[seawater]], and accommodated 10,000 bathers. At its opening it was the largest swimming pool in the United States and one of the largest (in theory) heated outdoor pools in the world. It had a diving pool measuring {{convert|50|ft}} square and {{convert|14|ft}} deep with a two-tiered diving tower.<ref name=Chron>{{cite news |author=Tessa McLean |url=https://www.sfgate.com/things-to-do/article/Fleishhacker-pool-ruins-sf-zoo-history-15138850.php |title=The largest pool in the U.S. was once in San Francisco |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=March 20, 2020 |accessdate=January 9, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Kevin Starr |year=2002|title=The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0195157974|page=122}}</ref> The pool was so large the lifeguards required rowboats for patrol and it was used by the military for drills and exercises.

The water was provided by a series of pumps and piping at [[high tide]], directly from the [[Pacific Ocean]] {{convert|650|ft}} away, filtered, and heated. The pool's heater could warm {{convert|2800|usgal|L}} of seawater from {{cvt|60|to|75|F}} each minute, in theory providing a constant pool water temperature of {{cvt|72|F}},<ref name="sfcg">{{cite web |author=James Smith |year=2007 |title=Fleishhacker Pool |url=http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=290&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=&topic=Parks%20and%20Recreation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719151000/http://www.sfcityguides.org:80/public_guidelines.html?article=290&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=&topic=parks%20and%20recreation |archive-date=2016-07-19 |accessdate=28 August 2010 |work=San Francisco City Guides}}</ref> though in practice it tended to vary between {{cvt|65|and|75|F}}, which was sometimes too cold for comfortable swimming.<ref name=Chron/>

The [[Mother’s Building]] (also known as the Delia Fleishhacker Memorial Building) was built next to the children's wading pool; the building served as a lounge for mothers and small children.<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web |author= |date=1979 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Fleishhacker, Delia, Memorial Building |url={{NRHP url|id=79000529}} |accessdate=November 10, 2022 |publisher=[[National Park Service]]}} With {{NRHP url|id=79000529|photos=y|title=accompanying pictures}}</ref> The wading pool was removed in 1940; and it was replaced by the children's zoo by 1960.<ref name="nrhpdoc" />

⚫
== Decline ==

[[File:Fleischhacker Pool & Bath House.jpg|thumb|Fleishhacker Pool and Bath House (closed) (1979)]]
[[File:Remains of Fleishhacker Pool Bath House.JPG|thumb|Remains of Fleishhacker Pool Bath House. The building burned down in December 2012. The rubble has been removed and all that remains is the framing around the main entrances. The photo was taken from the San Francisco Zoo parking lot, facing west.]]


After years of underfunding and poor maintenance, the pool was showing some deterioration when a storm in January 1971 damaged its drainage pipe. Usage of the pool had been low, and the repair costs exceeded the City's budget,<ref name=Chron/> so the pool was converted to fresh water, resulting in poor water quality; it was closed by the end of 1971.<ref name = "sfcg" />
⚫
==Construction==
It was built by [[philanthropist]] and [[civic]] leader [[Herbert Fleishhacker]] in [[1924]], and opened [[April 23]], [[1925]]. The pool measured 300 [[metres|m]] (1,000 ft) by 45 m (150 ft), held 23 million [[litre|litres]] (6 million [[gallon|gallons]]) of [[seawater]], and accommodated 10,000 bathers. The pool was so large the lifeguards required [[kayak|kayaks]] for patrol, and was used by the military for drills and exercises. The unheated waters of the pool were provided by a series of pumps and piping at [[high tide]], directly from the [[Pacific Ocean]], 200 metres away. There was also a diving pool measuring 15 m (50 ft) square and 5 m (16 ft) deep and a two tiered diving tower.


In 1999, the San Francisco [[San Francisco Zoo|Zoological Society]] was granted ownership of the pool house. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sfzoo.businesscatalyst.com/about/historic-sites-fleishhacker-pool.htm|title=Historic Sites: Fleishhacker Pool|publisher=San Francisco Zoological Society|accessdate=9 November 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023174300/http://sfzoo.businesscatalyst.com/about/historic-sites-fleishhacker-pool.htm|archivedate=23 October 2015}}</ref> The pool house stood derelict and occupied by wildlife and homeless people for many years, until it was destroyed by a fire on December 1, 2012.<ref name=Chron/><ref>{{cite news |author=Brock Keeling |date=December 1, 2012 |url=http://sfist.com/2012/12/01/fleishhacker_pool_on_fire.php |title=Fleishhacker Pool House Next To SF Zoo On Fire |work=SFist |accessdate=20 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306020151/http://sfist.com/2012/12/01/fleishhacker_pool_on_fire.php |archivedate=March 6, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author=Peter Fimrite | title=Fleishhacker bathhouse facing demolition | work=San Francisco Chronicle | url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Fleishhacker-bathhouse-facing-demolition-4129824.php | date=December 19, 2012 | accessdate=December 20, 2012}}</ref> The remaining ruins were demolished, but a fragment of the pool house still exists consisting of three ornate entrances.<ref>{{cite web | title=Fleishhacker Pool Ruins | work=Atlas Obscura | url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fleishhacker-pool-ruins | accessdate=21 January 2017}}</ref>
⚫
==Decline==
After years of deterioration and absence of modern operational systems, the pool did not meet [[health]] and safety standards and closed in [[1971]]. Consideration was given to refurbishing and reopening the historic [[landmark]], but usage studies showed low interest, and the high annual operating costs could not be offset with the expected revenue.


The only remaining structure left from the Fleishhacker Pool complex is the Mother’s Building, presently located within the [[San Francisco Zoo|San Francisco Zoo and Gardens]].<ref name = "nrhpdoc" />
==Loss of a landmark==
In [[1999]], the San Francisco [[Zoological Society]] was granted ownership of the pool house, and it is not known what might become of it. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo.<ref>
{{cite web
|url =http://www.sfzoo.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=14106&orgkey=1900#fleishhackerpool
|title = San Francisco Zoological Society - About the Zoo - Historic Sites
|publisher = The San Francisco Zoo
|accessdate = 2008-03-10
}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>


==External Link==
==External links==
* [http://oceanbeachbulletin.com/2012/12/18/before-now-fleishhacker-pool-and-its-6-million-gallons/ Ocean Beach Bulletin: "Before Now – Fleishhacker Pool and its 6 million gallons"]
*[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/S?pp/hh:@field(TITLE+@od1(Fleischhacker+Pool+++Bath+House,+Sloat+Boulevard+++Great+Highway,+San+Francisco,+San+Francisco+County,+CA)) List of 26 photos of Fleishhacker Pool at Library of Congress]
* [http://www.terrastories.com/bearings/fleishhacker-pool-san-francisco Terrastories.com: Contemporary photos of the Fleishhacker Bath House & History of the Pool]
* [http://blog.sfgate.com/thebigevent/2012/08/02/shrinkage-vanishing-swimming-pools-of-san-francisco/ SFgate.com: "Shrinkage: The vanishing swimming pools of San Francisco"]
* [http://www.bcx.news/photos/places/cities/us/ca/sf/parks/zoo/1954/ Bcx.news: "Fleishhacker Pool 1954 by San Francisco Zoo, San Francisco, California"]
* [http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=290&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=TRUE&topic= Guidelines-Newsletter for San Francisco Guides and Sponsors: "Fleishhacker Pool" by James Smith] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025011016/http://www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=290&submitted=TRUE&srch_text=&submitted2=TRUE&topic= |date=2016-10-25 }}


{{commonscat|Fleishhacker Pool|position=left}}
{{California-struct-stub}}


[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Destroyed landmarks]]
[[Category:Swimming venues in San Francisco]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Culture of San Francisco]]
[[Category:Former buildings and structures of the United States]]
[[Category:Sunset District, San Francisco]]
[[Category:San Francisco culture]]
[[Category:1920s architecture in the United States]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Revival architecture in California]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2000]]

Latest revision as of 20:37, 20 November 2024

Fleishhacker Pool
Postcard of Fleishhacker Pool in 1932
Fleishhacker Pool is located in San Francisco County
Fleishhacker Pool
Location within San Francisco
General information
StatusDestroyed
Architectural styleMediterranean Revival
LocationSloat Boulevard and Great Highway
Town or citySan Francisco, California
CountryUnited States
Coordinates37°44′01″N 122°30′22″W / 37.733477°N 122.505978°W / 37.733477; -122.505978
Construction started1924
Completed1925
Demolished2000
Design and construction
Architect(s)Earl Clements (Fleishhacker Pool)
Clarence R. Ward and J. Harry Blohme (pool building and bath house)
NRHP reference No.79000529
Added to NRHPDecember 31, 1979

Fleishhacker Pool was a public saltwater swimming pool complex, located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, California, United States, next to the San Francisco Zoo at Sloat Boulevard and the Great Highway. Upon its completion in 1925, it was one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the world; it remained open for more than four decades until its closure in 1971. It was demolished in 2000.

Construction

[edit]

The Fleishhacker Pool and the Fleishhacker Playfield complex were built by philanthropist and civic leader Herbert Fleishhacker in 1924, and opened on April 22, 1925. The pool measured 1,000 by 150 feet (300 by 50 meters) and held 6,500,000 U.S. gallons (25,000,000 liters) of seawater, and accommodated 10,000 bathers. At its opening it was the largest swimming pool in the United States and one of the largest (in theory) heated outdoor pools in the world. It had a diving pool measuring 50 feet (15 m) square and 14 feet (4.3 m) deep with a two-tiered diving tower.[1][2] The pool was so large the lifeguards required rowboats for patrol and it was used by the military for drills and exercises.

The water was provided by a series of pumps and piping at high tide, directly from the Pacific Ocean 650 feet (200 m) away, filtered, and heated. The pool's heater could warm 2,800 US gallons (11,000 L) of seawater from 60 to 75 °F (16 to 24 °C) each minute, in theory providing a constant pool water temperature of 72 °F (22 °C),[3] though in practice it tended to vary between 65 and 75 °F (18 and 24 °C), which was sometimes too cold for comfortable swimming.[1]

The Mother’s Building (also known as the Delia Fleishhacker Memorial Building) was built next to the children's wading pool; the building served as a lounge for mothers and small children.[4] The wading pool was removed in 1940; and it was replaced by the children's zoo by 1960.[4]

Decline

[edit]
Fleishhacker Pool and Bath House (closed) (1979)
Remains of Fleishhacker Pool Bath House. The building burned down in December 2012. The rubble has been removed and all that remains is the framing around the main entrances. The photo was taken from the San Francisco Zoo parking lot, facing west.

After years of underfunding and poor maintenance, the pool was showing some deterioration when a storm in January 1971 damaged its drainage pipe. Usage of the pool had been low, and the repair costs exceeded the City's budget,[1] so the pool was converted to fresh water, resulting in poor water quality; it was closed by the end of 1971.[3]

In 1999, the San Francisco Zoological Society was granted ownership of the pool house. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo.[5] The pool house stood derelict and occupied by wildlife and homeless people for many years, until it was destroyed by a fire on December 1, 2012.[1][6][7] The remaining ruins were demolished, but a fragment of the pool house still exists consisting of three ornate entrances.[8]

The only remaining structure left from the Fleishhacker Pool complex is the Mother’s Building, presently located within the San Francisco Zoo and Gardens.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Tessa McLean (March 20, 2020). "The largest pool in the U.S. was once in San Francisco". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Kevin Starr (2002). The Dream Endures: California Enters the 1940s. Oxford University Press. p. 122. ISBN 0195157974.
  3. ^ a b James Smith (2007). "Fleishhacker Pool". San Francisco City Guides. Archived from the original on 2016-07-19. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Fleishhacker, Delia, Memorial Building". National Park Service. 1979. Retrieved November 10, 2022. With accompanying pictures
  5. ^ "Historic Sites: Fleishhacker Pool". San Francisco Zoological Society. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  6. ^ Brock Keeling (December 1, 2012). "Fleishhacker Pool House Next To SF Zoo On Fire". SFist. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  7. ^ Peter Fimrite (December 19, 2012). "Fleishhacker bathhouse facing demolition". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
  8. ^ "Fleishhacker Pool Ruins". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
[edit]
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