San Rafael Improvement Club

The San Rafael Improvement Club is a wooden structure with Classical Revival elements on 5th Avenue, displaying a broad facade and clear geometric lines. The building features a wood-frame construction with traditional details and contains multiple rooms designed for gatherings inside.

The building began as a pavilion at an exposition in 1915 and was moved to San Rafael and reassembled a few years later. This relocation saved the structure from demolition and allowed it to survive to the present day.

The club serves as a community gathering space and reflects San Rafael's identity as a place where people come together. Its rooms continue to host local meetings and social events.

The building is easily accessible from the street and stands in an established residential neighborhood. Visitors should note that it remains an actively used community building whose hours may vary depending on scheduled events.

The building is one of the few remaining survivors from a major early 20th-century exposition and was physically transported to its current location rather than built from scratch. This preservation through relocation makes it an unusual example from that era.

GPS coordinates: 37.97500,-122.53889

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:47