San Francisco Point of Historic Interest: Spreckels Temple of Music
Spreckels Temple of Music
1 February 2012
The plane trees were planted as an element of the original 1895 design for the Music Concourse.
The words, Lift Every Voice, were installed in 2012 as a rebuke to Francis Scott Key. The song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is associated with the Civil Rights Movement and is often called the Black National Anthem.
The Spreckels Temple of Music is the most important element of the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. It was commissioned by sugar magnate Claus Spreckels and designed by his architects, the Reid Brothers. Built of Colusa sandstone in the classical style and monumental in scale, it was embellished with sculptural carvings by Robert I. Aitken.
Excerpted from San Francisco Planning Commission Resolution 16671 adopted 2 October 2003.
The Spreckels Temple of Music contributes to the Music Concourse, which is San Francisco Landmark 249, and to the Golden Gate Park Historic District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.