San Francisco Heritage

San Francisco Heritage, a nonprofit dedicated to conserving the city's architectural, cultural, and historic assets. Founded in 1971 to stem the increasingly rapid destruction of the city’s architectural legacy, Heritage envisions an inclusive historic preservation movement that reflects the city's diversity and aims to raise the profile of sites and stories that have historically been underrepresented in the city's landmarks and historic districts. In 1973, while still in the process of rescuing the Victorians in the Western Addition, Heritage was entrusted with caring for one of its own. The Haas-Lilienthal House, a pristine 1886 Victorian mansion with most of its contents intact, was given to Heritage by members of the prominent Haas and Lilienthal families. Today it serves myriad functions: as a house museum, a popular venue for meetings, lectures, and social events, and as Heritage’s administrative office, library, and archive. Through a variety of activities including Heritage Hikes for schoolchildren, the house is the centerpiece of Heritage’s education program and has become a powerful exemplar of responsible stewardship. San Francisco Heritage was instrumental in establishing the framework of preservation protections that has allowed San Francisco’s downtown to evolve and flourish without sacrificing its distinct character. From Mission Dolores to the Transamerica Pyramid, from the Painted Ladies to the Ferry Building, San Francisco’s diverse array of landmarks—old and new, architectural and cultural—draws visitors from around the world and fuels the city’s creative and economic vitality.