The Trocadero Inn, San Francisco - A Victorian Era classic

The Trocadero Inn, hidden away in Stern Grove, is a historic site even many San Franciscans don't realize exists right within their city. The building has a rather complex history, having been built on the east coast and then been shipped around The Horn. At the turn of the 1900s it was a major hot spot in the city, a favorite place for gambling, drinking and dancing.

It was here, in 1907, that the notorious political boss Abe Ruef went into hiding after being indicted on 65 counts of bribery. It is said that bullets can still be found in its walls, left over from fights over who would get to date the favorite hostess of the evening.

With Prohibition it closed and shortly after the entire property surrounding it was bought by Mrs. Sigmund Stern, who gave it all to the city as a memorial to her late husband.

Mrs. Stern hired Bernard Maybeck to oversee the restoration of the Trocadero Inn. Despite his own personal architectural style being so different he was careful not to impose his style on the building and restored it beautifully, in accord with its original spirit. In his words, "You see, we have simply had to be careful not to spoil the picture. It was nearly perfect as we found it."

The architecture of the Inn is filled with delightful details, typical of the period, from its porch, to its deeply overhung gable and its cupola.

A detailed set of drawings is available at my eBay store. This set consists of 13 sheets, each measuring 18" x 24", consisting of a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and many fascinating details.