Old St. Mary's Cathedral: The Granite and Brick Survivor
Why is it significant?
Pause on the sidewalk of California Street before the Gothic red-brick tower of Old St. Mary's Cathedral. Look up at the clock face on the tower: beneath the dial is a bold gold-lettered biblical inscription from Ecclesiasticus: Son, Observe the Time and Fly from Evil.
Key Facts
| Place | Old St. Mary's Cathedral: The Granite and Brick Survivor |
|---|---|
| Address | 660 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108 |
| Geo Coordinates | 37.79280, -122.40580 |
| Part of Walk | Barbary Coast & Secret Chinatown: Gold Rush Saloons, Cable Cars, and Dragon Alleys |
| Generated | Generated |
Pause on the sidewalk of California Street before the Gothic red-brick tower of Old St. Mary's Cathedral. Look up at the clock face on the tower: beneath the dial is a bold gold-lettered biblical inscription from Ecclesiasticus: Son, Observe the Time and Fly from Evil.
Dedicated on Christmas Eve in eighteen fifty-four, Old St. Mary's was the very first Catholic cathedral in California and the tallest building in San Francisco at the time. Its foundation stones are made of dressed granite quarried in China and brought across the Pacific on sailing ships, while its red bricks were shipped all the way around Cape Horn from New England!
In the eighteen fifties, this corner bordered the wild Barbary Coast brothels and gambling dens. The inscription Fly from Evil was deliberately placed right above the brothels to warn young men heading into temptation. In nineteen zero six, the intense heat of the firestorm melted the church's bronze bells and altar, yet the granite foundation and brick walls held firm.
Walk up the steep hill on Mason Street toward the rumbling Cable Car Museum.