Friday, September 4, 2026

Question: Only a handful of downtown San Francisco buildings survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. One of them safeguarded $200 million in gold reserves and became the devastated city’s key financial depository. Which landmark was it?

Answer: The Old San Francisco Mint, nicknamed “The Granite Lady.” Built in 1874, it was one of the very few downtown buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake and fire. It safeguarded $200 million in gold reserves backing the U.S. dollar and, as the city’s only financial institution still standing, served as the depository for emergency financial transactions as San Francisco began its recovery.