Merchants Exchange Building

The Merchants Exchange Building is a 15-story office structure located in San Francisco's Financial District, distinguished by symmetrical stone facades and classical columns along Montgomery Street. The building houses various commercial offices and retains its original central trading floor from its early years of operation.

The structure was designed by Daniel Burnham and completed in 1904 during San Francisco's early commercial expansion period. It emerged as the city established itself as a major financial center during the early 20th century.

The structure reflects the architectural tastes of its era through elaborate decorative elements and classical proportions that dominated San Francisco's commercial districts. Visitors can observe the ornamental stonework and columned facades that line Montgomery Street, revealing how the city expressed prosperity through its buildings.

The building sits prominently on Montgomery Street and is accessible by public transit serving the Financial District. While the main interior spaces are private offices, visitors can appreciate the exterior architecture and may access parts of the ground level during business hours.

The central trading floor inside preserves the space where merchants once gathered to negotiate deals and exchange goods during the building's early decades. This interior feature captures how the structure served San Francisco's commercial development in the 1900s.