Second Custom House Parrott Building San Francisco 1 Editorial Image

San Francisco quickly become a major financial and import center, due to the Gold Rush of 1849. Because of all the imports, a customs house was set up in Portsmouth Square, Chinatown, but was quickly outgrown. A second, much larger, four story building was leased, on the corner of California and Montgomery Streets, for the new Custom House, from William Davis who Davis Street is named in honor. Although the building itself was brick, the floors were all of wood, which was a major problem during the major fire of 1851.The next buildings owner, John Parrott, wanted to make sure his new building was indestructible. It survived being dynamited, to try and create a firebreak, during the earthquake fire of 1906. It wasn`t until 1926 that it was finally brought down for the brand new, fifteen story Financial Center Building, which was then gutted for the current Omni Hotel, which opened in 2002.As seen 14 September 2022.