The Palace Hotel (original 1875 hotel; rebuilt 1909)

The original Palace Hotel opened in 1875 and was considered one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in the world at that time. The 1875 structure was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fires; the Palace Hotel was rebuilt and reopened in 1909 on the same site with its restored Garden Court lobby becoming a noted architectural and social landmark. The building has undergone later renovation and preservation efforts while continuing to operate as a historic luxury hotel in downtown San Francisco.