The Old San Francisco Mint held a third of the nation's gold in 1906

The Old San Francisco Mint is a notable example of Greek Revival architecture on 5th Street. Designed by Alfred B. Mullett, construction on the building began in 1869 and was completed in 1874. While it is sometimes called The Granite Lady, this is an inaccurate marketing term from the 1970s - as the building is primarily constructed from sandstone quarried from Newcastle Island, British Columbia, built above a granite basement.

The building served as the San Francisco branch of the United States Mint from 1874 until 1937. During the fire of 1906, the building's heavy concrete and granite foundation - designed to thwart tunneling into its vaults - helped it survive. A central courtyard well also aided in preserving the structure while the heat of the fire melted plate glass windows and exploded sandstone and granite blocks. At that time, the mint held $300 million, which was a third of the United States' gold reserves.

After its service as a mint ended, the federal government sold the structure to the City of San Francisco for an 1879 silver dollar in 2003. Renovations began in 2005 to adapt the central court into a glass-enclosed galleria, with the first phase completed in 2011. The building is a National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark.

In 2014, the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society began raising money for a second phase of renovations to include permanent exhibitions. In April 2016, the California Historical Society agreed to undertake the restoration of the building and its preservation as a public space. The Old Mint continues to be used for special events today.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons