Engine Company No. 2 was the first firehouse to be rebuilt in the downtown district after the tragic earthquake and fire of 1906 and is one of only three classically-inspired firehouses ever built in San Francisco.

The Beaux Arts design reflects the influence of the City Beautiful Movement on the rebuilding of San Francisco.

Large scale elements, such as the doorway arch and piano nobile columns, create a dramatic façade that appears more grandiose than its mere two stories would warrant. Inspiration may have come from such late Renaissance masters as Raphael and Palladio.

Raphael's Palazzo Vidoni Caffarelli (Rome, c1520), similarly uses a rusticated base upon which a columned piano nobile rests. Palladio's possible influence is seen in the use of a large arch flanked by smaller openings.

Excerpted from the NRHP nomination approved 20 February 2002.

Engine Company No. 2 is also San Francisco Landmark 143.

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.