Venue Information

Union Square is the heartbeat of San Francisco—ever-changing, eternally celebrating, yet firmly rooted in its rich past.
In 1847, the City of San Francisco commissioned Jasper O'Farrell to lay out a design for its streets and parks. Union Square was one of two public squares. It was named on the eve of the Civil War (1861-5) as a demonstration of support for the Union.
During the 1880s, the Square had become the center of a fashionable residential district. By the turn of the century, offices and stores dominated the Square, pushing out residences and churches. Then the infamous 1906 San Francisco earthquake shook the city.
After the earthquake, reconstruction began and Union Square became San Francisco’s premiere shopping district. The Square’s present character was inspired by the construction of the Hotel Saint Francis in 1908. It was and remains the tallest structure (13 stories) facing the Square. Over the years, the park was redesigned ...