After the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, San Francisco built an independent High Pressure Water System, designed to withstand future seismic shocks. In addition to reservoirs, cisterns and 74 miles of water mains, the system has two stations for pumping salt water from the bay into the reservoirs or directly into the mains, Pumping Station No. 1 at Second and Townsend Streets and Pumping Station No. 2 in Fort Mason at the end of Van Ness Avenue.

Pumping Station No. 2, designed by the firm of Manson, Marsden, Caldwell & Co. in the Mission Revival style, is beautifully situated at the base of Russian Hill where Fort Mason meets Aquatic Park. In the photograph, Russian Hill rises in the background while Fort Mason stands on the bluff in the trees.

The station is extensively documented in the Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record.

Pumping Station No. 2 is of local historical significance in the categories of Engineering and Community Planning. It represents innovative planning and innovative design of an "earthquake-proof" fire fighting system for San Francisco which is auxiliary to the domestic water supply system. While the entire system is unquestionably of local historical significance in the above categories, the greatest part of it consists of underground piping, hydrants, cisterns, reservoirs, fireboats, another pumping station and other facilities throughout the city on city land. This nomination addresses only that portion of the system located on Federal land, specifically Pumping Station no. 2. This station, and the whole system, represent an outstanding achievement in engineering and community planning in San Francisco's history.... National Register Statement of Significance for Pumping Station No. 2

Vintage San Francisco Firehouses

Engine Company No. 1, 451 Pacific Avenue
Engine Company No. 2, 460 Bush Street
Engine Company No. 7, 3160 16th Street
Engine Company No. 8, 1648 Pacific Avenue
Engine Company No. 9 and Fire Boat House, Pier 22½, Embarcadero at Harrison

Engine Company No. 13, 1458 Valencia Street
Engine Company No. 14, 1051 McAllister Street
Engine Company No. 16, 909 Tennessee Street
Engine Company No. 21, 1152 Oak Street
Engine Company No. 22, 1348 10th Avenue

Engine Company No. 23, 3022 Washington Street
Engine Company No. 24, 100 Hoffman Avenue
Engine Company No. 25, 3305 Third Street
Engine Company No. 27, 52 Waller Street
Engine Company No. 30, 1757 Waller Street

Engine Company No. 31, 1088 Green Street
Engine Company No. 33, 117 Broad Street
Engine Company No. 37, 2501 25th Street
Engine Company No. 40, 1249 Clayton Street
Engine Company No. 43, 724 Brazil Avenue

Engine Company No. 44, 3816 22nd Street
Engine Company No. 47, 1298 Girard Street
Engine Company No. 48, 798 Wisconsin Street
Dennis T Sullivan Memorial Fire Chief's Home
Pumping Station No. 2
Underwriter's Fire Patrol, 147 Natoma Street

GuardiansofTheCity.org is the definitive Web guide to San Francisco firehouses, both vintage and modern.