Built in 1911, the R. L. Goldberg Building is closely associated with the life and career of cartoonist Rube Goldberg who was famous for his Rube Goldberg machines. Wikipedia defines a Rube Goldberg machine as "a contraption, invention, device or apparatus that is deliberately over-engineered to perform a simple task in a complicated fashion, generally including a chain reaction."

A native San Franciscan, Rube Goldberg commissioned this building to house himself and his widowed father, Max Goldberg, in the two apartments on the second floor. The commerical units on the ground floor provided income.

Although Goldberg lived in New York City for most of his professional life, he made extended visits to his San Francisco home. He retained this property until his death in 1972.