Crystal Palace Market

The Crystal Palace Market opened in 1922 as the largest market in San Francisco. It was developed by brothers Oliver M. and Arthur Rousseau at the intersection of Eighth and Market Streets. It was conceived as a 71,000-square-foot steel-framed structure lit by skylights designed by architect David C. Coleman. Its 65 shops included bakeries, fruit and vegetable stands, record stores, appliance stores, a pet store, and several shops that sold imported produce; it also offered free parking for over 4,000 cars. This market served the city for 37 years and was a significant part of the lives of the people of San Francisco. It was mentioned in the 1991 book China Boy by author Gus Lee, who wrote: "The Palace was an emporium dedicated to the palates of the cosmos." On August 1, 1959, the market closed its doors. In 2022, a new Whole Foods opened in the former Crystal Palace Market location.

Author Manushi Mathur, a historian and preservation planner, put together this visual narrative using images sourced from the extensive photographic collection of the San Francisco History Center.