California Hall (San Francisco, California)

California Hall
California Hall in 2022
Location625 Polk Street, San Francisco, California, U.S.
Coordinates37°46′57″N 122°25′09″W / 37.782455°N 122.419220°W / 37.782455; -122.419220
Built forGerman Association
ArchitectFrederick Herman Meyer
Architectural style(s)German Baroque
DesignatedOctober 7, 1984
Reference no.174
Location of California Hall in San Francisco County
California Hall (San Francisco, California) (California)

California Hall, originally named Das Deutsche Haus (English: The German House, sometimes also referred to in incorrect German as Das Deutsches Haus), is a historic commercial building and event venue built in 1912, located in the Polk Gulch/Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco, California.

It started as a German social meeting hall. In 1965, it was the location of a fundraiser event for gay charities that brought trouble with the police and an ensuing legal battle. This event has been described a turning point in gay rights in the west coast.

In the mid-1960s and 1970s, it was a popular concert hall; performers that played at the California Hall include Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Grateful Dead, and Quicksilver Messenger Service.

The building presently is part of the Academy of Art University campus. The California Hall has been listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark since October 7, 1984.