Pumping Station No. 2 San Francisco Fire Department Auxiliary Water Supply System, historic building in San Francisco

Pumping Station No. 2 is a Mission Revival building of 1912 at the northern end of Van Ness Avenue near Fort Mason, designed by City Engineer Marsden Manson and built by Caldwell & Co. Its white facade has three large arched bays, each about 12 feet wide and 20 feet from sill to arch top, divided into tall multi-pane windows. A tiled overhanging roof with reddish-brown edge and brackets runs along the left facade; the number 5455 is inscribed at the lower right.

The station was built in 1912 after the 1906 earthquake and fire destroyed much of San Francisco, prompting the city to create a more resilient water system. It became part of a larger network of reservoirs, pipes, and pumps designed to operate independently during emergencies and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The building is located at the end of Van Ness Avenue near Fort Mason, making it easy to reach on foot from the waterfront area. Visitors can view the exterior at any time, but should check ahead whether the interior is open to the public since access may vary depending on events or special programs.

The system draws salt water directly from the bay through pipes built specifically to survive earthquakes and function after disasters, which was innovative for its time. Complementing this station are over 170 underground cisterns scattered throughout the city, regularly maintained by the fire department to ensure they remain full and ready.