Fleishhacker Pool
| Fleishhacker Pool | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | San Francisco, California |
| Country |  United States |
| Construction started | 1924 |
| Completed | 1925 |
| Demolished | 2000 |
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 zoo for 47 years. Its major claim-to-fame was that it was said that it could be seen from space.
Construction
It was built by philanthropist and civic leader Herbert Fleishhacker in 1924, and opened April 22, 1925. The pool measured 1,000 by 150 ft (300 by 50 m), held 6,500,000 US gallons (25,000,000 L) of seawater, and accommodated 10,000 bathers. The pool was so large the lifeguards required kayaks for patrol, and was used by the military for drills and exercises. The pool water was pumped from the Pacific Ocean, filtered and heated. The pool's heater could warm 2,800 US gallons (11,000 L) of seawater from 60 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit each minute. This resulted in a constant pool water temperature of 72 degrees for AAU swim meets. [1]
The water provided by a series of pumps and piping at high tide, directly from the Pacific Ocean, 650 feet (200 m) away. There was also a diving pool measuring 50 feet (15 m) square and 14 feet (4.3 m) deep and a two tiered diving tower.
Decline
After years of underfunding and poor maintenance, the pool was showing some deterioration when a storm in January 1971 damaged its drainage pipe. Because the repair costs exceeded the City's budget, the pool was converted to a fresh water pool which resulted in poor water quality. [2]
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.[3] The poolhouse is currently derelict and occupied by the homeless.
References
- ^ "Fleishhacker Pool" by James Smith, Guidelines Newsletter for San Francisco City Guides and Sponsors
- ^ "Fleishhacker Pool by James Smith, Guidelines Newsletter for San Francisco City Guides and Sponsors [1]
- ^ "San Francisco Zoological Society - About the Zoo - Historic Sites". The San Francisco Zoo. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
External links
- Fleishhacker Pool by James Smith, Published by San Francisco City Guides
- List of 26 photos of Fleishhacker Pool at Library of Congress
- Contemporary photos of the Fleishhacker Bath House & History of the Pool
37°44′01″N 122°30′22″W / 37.733477°N 122.505978°W
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