The Legacy of the PPIE
“When the ashes were raked, all that was left was the Palace of Fine Arts.” – Ruth Newhall, 1967
Shortly after the close of the Exposition, a group of concerned individuals rallied together and formed the Exposition Preservation League, which strove to preserve the memory of the fair by fighting to save some of its magnificent structures, primarily the Palace of Fine Arts. 100 years later this structure still stands as a reminder of the Exposition, but what most people do not know is the Palace of today is almost a complete reconstruction.
After the exposition, the San Francisco Art Association maintained the building until ownership was taken over by the San Francisco City Parks System. By 1934, the gallery that once held famous pieces of art from around the world was home to 18 lighted tennis courts. Over time the building became increasingly dilapidated and by 1947, the Palace was deemed unfit for occupancy. As a response, concerned citizens and elected officials began a concerted effort to raise enough state and private money to fund the Palace’s restoration. Architect William Merchant, who worked in Maybeck’s office, was selected to execute the restoration, and after his death his successor architect Hans U. Gerson took the project over. To tackle this large-scale project, Merchant and Gerson were assisted by the firm Welton Becket & Associates. The reconstruction took place from 1964 to 1967. Several restoration efforts followed, one in 1990, and a four-phase project that began in 2003 and was completed in the fall of 2010.