Rincon Center (Rincon Annex Post Office) — Attraction in San Francisco

A Ghost of Its Former Self

Before the pandemic, Rincon Center (Annex) was a bustling place, particularly during lunchtime on weekdays. Working nearby, I used to visit for lunch and had many options to choose from. Just before the pandemic, they started remodeling, and a few vendors left. When the pandemic struck, the place went dark. Now, the only food option available inside is Yank Sing. Additionally, many business offices are closed and sit empty.

For those of us who remember the bustling days, it is very disheartening to walk through that beautiful space and see it empty. The other day, I was there and realized I had never written about it, so here it is!

The Rincon Annex is a historic landmark in San Francisco. It was initially built as a post office during the Great Depression as part of President Roosevelt's New Deal. The building reflects the Streamline Moderne architectural style and was designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood. Completed in 1940, it quickly became an important mail processing and distribution center.

The interior of the Rincon Annex was particularly noteworthy. Renowned artist Anton Refregier adorned the lobby with stunning murals depicting California's history, from its early indigenous cultures to the labor struggles of the 20th century. While these murals were celebrated for their artistic merit, they also sparked controversy due to their unreserved portrayal of social issues.

Changes in postal operations led to the decline of the Rincon Annex as a mail processing facility. By the late 1970s, there were plans to demolish the building. However, a dedicated community effort to preserve its historical significance resulted in its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the 1980s, the Rincon Annex underwent a significant transformation. It became part of the Rincon Center, a mixed-use development incorporating offices, retail, and residential spaces. The original post office building was meticulously restored, and its lobby, with Refregier's murals, remains a popular public space. Today, the Rincon Annex is a testament to the area's rich history, seamlessly integrating its past with its present as a part of San Francisco's...

Rincon Annex Post Office was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is also San Francisco Landmark 107.

Built in 1940, the building was designed by Gilbert S. Underwood in the Streamline Moderne style and sponsored by the New Deal Work Projects Administration.

From 1941 to 1948, painter Anton Refregier decorated the lobby with twenty-seven murals depicting the history of California. Refregier, an immigrant from Russia, was influenced by the social realism of Diego Rivera. Like Rivera, he was suspected of being a Communist Party fellow traveler.

Refregier chose to depict the hardships and struggles of the early settlers realistically rather than romantically, a deviation from the accepted view of history that led to...

I love old post offices and this one was really really great! I popped inside on a Saturday afternoon-happy they were open or at least the lobby was after 3pm so that we could see the amazing murals. Such lovely mid century...