Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is a large performance space in the Civic Center neighborhood of San Francisco, United States. The main hall holds 7,000 people and features advanced sound engineering equipment for concerts and corporate gatherings.

The hall was constructed in 1915 as part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition and served as an exhibition building during the world's fair. Over the following decades, it hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1920 and provided a home for the San Francisco Opera until 1932.

The building carries the name of influential concert promoter Bill Graham, who shaped the city's music scene for decades. Many visitors recognize the connection between the venue and the generation of rock musicians who performed here during the 1960s and 1970s.

The building sits within walking distance of several subway and bus lines, making public transit access straightforward. Visitors find modern amenities designed for both music events and conferences or company gatherings.

In 1968, the space hosted the Mother of All Demos, a groundbreaking computer presentation by Douglas Engelbart. This demonstration introduced audiences to the computer mouse, video conferencing, and hypertext linking for the first time.

Location: San Francisco

Inception: March 2, 1915

Official opening: 1915

Capacity: 7000

Website: http://billgrahamcivic.com

GPS coordinates: 37.77850,-122.41700

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:12