Old United States Mint
City of San Francisco
San Francisco, California

The old United States building occupies its own city block bounded by Fifth, Mission, Mint, and Jessie Streets. Designed by Alfred B. Mullett, Assistant Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, the building was completed in 1874. This Classically inspired, National Historic Landmark is often cited as one of the last major monuments of the Greek Revival. The building’s impressive granite and masonry construction and extensive use of cast iron gave the impression of a secure stronghold. A heroic survivor of the 1906 earthquake, the Mint is locally important as the oldest monumental stone building in San Francisco.

Under contract to the seismic engineer, ARG undertook a conservation study. The firm’s work included a condition survey of exterior sandstone and recommendations for conservation treatments. ARG examined the fiberglass cornice, installed as a substitute material in 1976, to determine causes of deterioration.