3800 Washington St
San Francisco, CA 94118, USA

Koshland House - National Register of Historic Places

Statement of Significance:

The Koshland house is significant architecturally far beyond the implications of its eclectic front facade. Its spatial qualities and the quality of its interior detailing excel among its contemporaries in both richness and monumental character. Its owners have had deep association with San Francisco's commercial life and were intimately involved in the cultural development (specifically music) of this city. They also had a deep commitment to their social and humanitarian responsibilities and generated a legacy of philanthropic endeavor. The building is also associated with the work of artist Bruce Porter who designed and executed the art glass windows and the original formal landscaping.

3800 Washington is far more interesting architecturally than its front facade might suggest. Its period and type define the end of an era in San Francisco, for few such imposing and monumental private residences were built following its completion in 1904. In comparing photographs of 3800 Washington and Le Petit Trianon, it is important to note that while there are minor differences in the details, the concept, massing, and proportions of 3800 Washington are virtually identical to the French original. The terraced base is modified to accommodate the site, but the double curving stair appears to be almost as masterful a solution as the broad, rectangular base of Gabriel's masterpiece. Also, because of the unusually spacious and beautiful interior, this residence continues to intrigue San Franciscans in a way that few other private residences do. Its most recent change in ownership has generated extraordinary media attention (see bibliography). It is almost as if the building were publicly owned, so keen is the public interest in it.

Declared a City Landmark in 1977, the building is also featured in the survey "Here Today" and received high ratings in the Department of City Planning's Inventory which rates only the top 10 percent of San Francisco's buildings.

Little is known about architect Van Trees. This building is undoubtedly his major commission. It is known that he apprenticed in the office of A. Page Brown about the time that Brown was commissioned to design the Ferry Building. Brown's subsequent early death may have delivered the commission for the Koshland house to Van Trees because of his familiarity with the sandstone which is common to both buildings. Van Trees is not listed in City Directories after 1913.

Bavarian immigrant Simon Koshland began his business life in California as a wool sorter in Sacramento's Mission Woolen Mills. Within a few years, he had established his own business. Sc Koshland and Company, which was to become one of the leading woolen companies in America. It later became S. Koshland and Sons, with sons Marcus and Jesse heading offices in San Francisco and Boston, respectively.

Son Marcus married San Francisco native Corrine Schweitzer (daughter of Bernard Schweitzer, a furnishings wholesaler) in 1890, thus establishing a union between two San Francisco families whose commercial successes were to finance a large part of this city's cultural and philanthropic life, continuing even to this day. Marcus died in 1925, leaving his widow and children (Daniel, Robert, and Margaret) a fortune and a legacy of cultural and philanthropic endeavor.

Mrs. Koshland, because of her love of music, played an important role in the establishment of the San Francisco Symphony and the San Francisco Opera. 3800 Washington was frequently the scene of musical events which generated support for the Symphony. Mrs. Koshland was an early Board Member of the Symphony. Musicians who either entertained or were houseguests at the house during this period included Yehudi Menuin (whose education was partially financed by Mrs. Koshland), Issac Stern, Leonard Bernstein, Jascha Heifitz, Pierre Monteaux, and Igor Stravinski.

Later, much of the Koshland fortune went into the establishment of the San Francisco Foundation, through the efforts of Daniel Koshland. This is the major cultural/philanthropic agency in San Francisco, and they have recently instituted a series of bequests called the Daniel Koshland Awards.

The second owners of 3800 Washington also figured prominently in San Francisco's commercial, social, and philanthropic life. They were Mr. and Mrs. Walter Buck. He was an extremely successful financier with interests in banking, shipping, and distilling. He also served for a time as President of the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. After their deaths, part of their estate became the basis for the Buck Foundation (administered by the San Francisco Foundation), which is the major cul tural/philanthropic agency for Marin County.