Building Evolution: A 45-Year Journey of Transformative Change
1970
The Women’s Building
was founded
1979
Building was
purchased
30
Community organizations
hosted
1st
Women-Led
Non-Profit
In 1971, visionary women founded San Francisco’s Women’s Centers to support and nurture women’s organizations. Outgrowing their Brady Street office, they bought Dovre Hall in 1979 and transformed it into the first woman-owned and operated community center in the country: The Women’s Building.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018, TWB reflects the ideals of Second-wave feminism, creating opportunities for women to envision a more equitable society.
Maintaining this historic building requires constant effort, especially in our drive for sustainability. Explore our timeline to see the key changes over the past 45 years and learn about our ongoing commitment to providing a safe, supportive community space for women.
March 31, 1979
Taking ownership in 1976, San Francisco’s Women’s Centers have fostered a deep philosophy of community involvement at The Women’s Building since its inception. El Edificio de Mujeres, with its largely bilingual staff, has warmly welcomed neighborhood organizations for events and meetings. Over the years, a diverse array of renters has hosted social and political events, including plays, concerts, poetry readings, dances, craft fairs, and art shows, bringing people together and strengthening community bonds.
Cost: $535,000 USD
Deposit of $10,000 & First Payment of $115,000
1st Mural “Women’s Contribution” was began in 1982 by 5 women and it is now all covered up by the Maestrapeace. Patricia Rodriguez, Francis Stevens, Miranda Bergman, Nicole Emanuel, and Celeste Snealand *Women’s Contribution
In the early ’70s, the Bay Area was a crucial hub for student movement groups. This environment gave rise to influential collectives like Mujeres Muralistas, founded in 1974. These women challenged the restrictive political expectations set by their male counterparts, advocating for art’s role in social change. Despite the burgeoning muralist movement in San Francisco, women were often excluded from projects. The first mural at The Women’s Building, which initially occupied the second floor of the 18th Street façade, was painted by Patricia Rodriguez, Francis Stevens, Miranda Bergman, Nicole Emanuel, and Celeste Snealand. Unfortunately, this pioneering mural was later destroyed.
In 1994, the mural “Maestrapeace” was painted on both facades of the San Francisco Women’s Building. The mural commemorated the paying off of the mortgage, which took fifteen years. The north and east façades of The Women’s Building are covered by a mural titled Maestrapeace. The painting was completed in 1994 by a group of prominent Bay Area muralists comprised of Juana Alicia, Miranda Bergman, Edythe Boone, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Meera Desai, Yvonne Littleton, and Irene Perez. Maestrapeace illustrates the contributions of women across time and around the globe and is notable for its size and richly vibrant color. Four two-story heads representing mythic female ancestors of Native American and African origin (north façade) and Asian and European origin (east façade) frame the building, gazing at each other from the southwest, northwest, and northeast corners. The shaped parapets atop the north and east walls hold additional over-scale figures, the north side features a pregnant goddess, and the east side holds a portrait of 1993 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Rigoberta Menchu.
In 2010, addition to the 18th Street Entrance and Interior Lobby and Stairwell
2011-2012
In 2012, the iconic MaestraPeace mural on San Francisco’s Mission District Women’s Building received a much-needed restoration. The original artists, returning after nearly two decades, were tasked with revitalizing this treasured artwork. Depicting the historical contributions of women worldwide, the MaestraPeace mural has been a landmark since its creation in 1994.
This restoration project was made possible by grant funding from the City and County of San Francisco and the local non-profit SF Beautiful. Their support ensures that the MaestraPeace mural will continue to inspire future generations as a testament to women’s achievements.
Cost: $130,000 USD
2015-2018
Consuming 80% less energy compared to incandescent bulbs, the high efficiency and directional nature of LEDs seemed like the ideal choice for our building. Changing the lights throughout the entire building took four years. The project cost $30,000, and TWB applied for an SF Energy Watch grant of $1,753.
Cost: $30,000 USD
This year, TWB achieved a significant milestone by becoming a national historic site. This designation places it among a handful of properties across the country recognized for their significance in LGBTQ history, and only the third such site on the West Coast.
The designation stemmed from a dedicated effort spearheaded by Donna Graves, a public historian based in Berkeley. Since 2016, Graves had worked on the Women’s Building application after securing a grant from the National Park Service’s LGBTQ Heritage Initiative, a program specifically funding LGBT historic nominations. Her contributions extended beyond the application, as she also co-wrote a historic context statement for San Francisco’s LGBTQ community and contributed a chapter to the Park Service’s LGBTQ theme study.
The TWB lobby revamp aimed for a welcoming and functional hub. Staff now greet visitors, answer questions, and keep the space sparkling. Tenants receive support with rentals, equipment, and in-house organizations. Departments benefit from streamlined reception, mail sorting, and event assistance. Fingerprint services are efficient, and safety is paramount with access control and conflict resolution. This transformed lobby is the heart of TWB’s mission, beating with efficiency and care.
Cost: $20,000 USD
2018-2020
In October 2018, The Women’s Building embarked on a campaign to upgrade our historic windows, with support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through an incredible month-long effort, we secured a spot among the top 7 nationwide organizations, earning a grant of $150K for our project.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we successfully upgraded our 110-year-old windows while preserving their historical value. This upgrade enhances safety, ventilation, and eco-efficiency, benefiting our staff and in-house organizations who rely on our building for essential services.
Benjamin Moore and the National Trust teamed up to repaint the building’s stairwell as part of the National Trust’s campaign for Where Women Made History. Now, the space is filled with vibrant colors that create a welcoming environment–and there’s a practical purpose, as well. Given that not all community members who seek out services at The Women’s Building speak English, the new paint can help people find their way around the building since each floor is painted a different color.
2021-2022
The Women’s Building in San Francisco completed a vital elevator upgrade project to address safety and functionality concerns. Aging components, nearing the end of their lifespan, posed potential safety risks and service disruptions for over 25,000 annual visitors, including those with disabilities. The upgrade ensured safe and reliable elevator access, crucial for accessing essential services across multiple floors. Proactive modernization minimized disruptions compared to potential breakdowns. This $150,000 project preserved the building’s historical integrity and ensured continued service to the community.