Mother's Building

The Mother's Building is a historic structure with Renaissance Revival architecture located at the San Francisco Zoo. The building measures approximately 100 by 40 feet and features a red Mission-style tiled roof with five arches supported by Corinthian columns.

Herbert and Mortimer Fleishhacker donated the building to San Francisco in 1925 as a memorial dedicated to mothers and children. It was originally part of a larger recreational complex and remains one of the few surviving structures from that development.

The interior walls display egg tempera murals created by Helen Forbes and Dorothy Pucinelli, while the Bruton sisters designed exterior mosaics depicting Saint Francis. These artistic elements shape the building's character and reflect the work of women artists from that era.

The building is currently closed to visitors due to seismic safety concerns. It is located within the zoo grounds, so access is dependent on general zoo operating hours.

The building remained sealed for more than two decades while restoration plans were developed. It is the sole surviving remnant of the original Fleishhacker complex and houses rare large-scale murals painted by women artists in the early 1900s.

Location: San Francisco

Inception: 1925

Architects: George W. Kelham

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

GPS coordinates: 37.73472,-122.50250

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:20