Portals of the Past

Railroad tycoon A.N. Towne built his mansion atop Nob Hill, where all but the facade was destroyed after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. The building’s entry portico was moved from its original location to its present resting grounds in Golden Gate Park, where it stands as a symbol of the ruin and rebirth of the city. It is the only public memorial to the disaster in the City.

ARG Conservation Services was retained to provide seismic strengthening of the structure, including masonry restoration and the installation of a concrete foundation. Additional services provided by ARG Conservation Services include HABS photographic documentation, detailed existing conditions documentation, conservation design, and the fabrication of a missing marble column.