140 New Montgomery, Art Deco skyscraper in South of Market, San Francisco, United States.
140 New Montgomery is a 26-story high-rise in South of Market built from steel, limestone, and terracotta with ornate details covering its exterior. The structure houses about 295,000 square feet of commercial space served by ten elevators that connect the above-ground floors and two basement levels.
The building opened in 1925 as the Pacific Telephone Building and was among the first major high-rises built south of Market Street. Its construction marked the beginning of high-rise development in this area and transformed the skyline of the district.
The building displays the artistic craftsmanship of the Art Deco movement through decorative motifs visible across its facade. These ornaments reflect how people in the 1920s valued beauty in modern high-rises and shaped the look of growing cities.
The best time to visit is during daytime when the building is easily accessible through the surrounding neighborhood and the architecture is most visible from outside. Its proximity to public transportation makes getting there straightforward, and visitors can view the entire facade from street level.
Winston Churchill used the building in 1929 during his visit to San Francisco for one of the first trans-Atlantic telephone calls. This historic call made it a place of international importance during the early days of telephone technology.
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