SAN FRANCISCO, September 9, 2025 – Today, the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is proud to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Lotta’s Fountain, the first public monument in the City’s Civic Art Collection, and one of San Francisco’s most beloved monuments.  

Lotta’s Fountain was gifted to the people of the City and County of San Francisco by famed entertainer Charlotte Mignon "Lotta" Crabtree (November 7, 1847 – September 25, 1924) and officially unveiled and dedicated by then mayor of San Francisco James Otis on September 9, 1875, at the intersection of Market and Kearny Street. 

At 24 feet tall, Lotta’s Fountain is made of cast iron, bronze, and glass, and is a symbol of the city’s resilience and civic pride and has stood as a historical treasure and early morning annual meeting place for remembrance of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire. 

A FREE online history program [2] will be hosted Tuesday, September 9, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in partnership with SF Heritage, a non-profit organization that works to preserve and enhance San Francisco’s unique architectural and cultural identity. The virtual panel will feature staff from SF Heritage and the Arts Commission  

“For 150 years, Lotta’s Fountain has held a special place for many San Franciscans, and from its home along Market Street, has been part of many celebrations and remembrances that have come to shape San Francisco,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. “The fountain serves not just as a connection to our city’s past, but a constant reminder of San Francisco’s spirit and resilience that continues to inspire and bring us together to this day. We look forward to commemorating this special work of art later this year and thank SF Heritage for being a partner in preserving San Francisco’s history.” 

“Lotta’s Fountain is more than a public ornament,” said Woody LaBounty, SF Heritage President & CEO. “It is inextricably bound with the history of San Francisco and holds a small part of every San Franciscan’s heart.”   

First introduced on September 2, and voted on today at the September 9, 2025, Board of Supervisors Meeting, Supervisor Danny Sauter authored resolution no. 250906 “Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Lotta’s Fountain” [3] that “celebrates the unique value that Lotta’s Fountain holds as a historical treasure, a work of art, a cultural symbol, and the site of a cherished and long-standing tradition honoring the resilience of San Francisco.” 

“Lotta’s Fountain stands as a timeless gathering place where San Francisco’s history, resilience, and community spirit continue to shine. For over a century, it has served as a symbol of remembrance and renewal,” said Danny Sauter, Supervisor of District 3. “We are celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and honoring its legacy as a landmark that unites past, present, and future generations.” 

District 6 Supervisor Matt Dorsey, whose district is adjacent to the historic Market Street corridor, shared, "This fountain has witnessed some of the most pivotal moments in our city’s history. Today, it still stands as a symbol of what we’ve overcome and a beacon of hope for our City’s future." 

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To commemorate the fountain’s 150th Anniversary, City Hall is scheduled to be lit in a golden bronze to match the color of the fountain on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 [4], starting at sunset. 

In honor of September being “Library Card Sign-Up Month,” the Arts Commission is also partnering with the San Francisco Public Library to issue a limited run commemorative library card that will feature historic and modern images of Lotta’s Fountain from the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection [5] that will be released later this fall.  

A commemorative public event is being planned for later this year in partnership with local community partners to commemorate the fountain’s 150th anniversary as well as the 115th anniversary of the famed 1910 performance by opera legend Luisa Tetrazzini, who lifted spirits of San Franciscans with a Christmas Eve concert that drew an estimated crowd of 250,000 spectators, as reported by the SF Chronicle at the time. Further details will be shared soon. 

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About the Monument  
Lotta’s Fountain is located on a pedestrian island at the intersection of Market, Geary, and Kearny in downtown San Francisco. Rising to a height of 24 feet, the fountain is made of cast iron painted in an imitation of bronze and is set atop a granite base, eight-foot square by three feet thick. Each of the fountain’s four sides holds a drinking basin with a griffin’s head, with water originally flowing from the mouth. Also featuring lion heads and bronze medallions with California Gold Rush scenes, the fountain is topped by a short, fluted column and a lamp. The Arts Commission has made several restorations of the fountain over the decades, including in 1999 and most recently conservation and repair work in 2024 with work carried out by ARG Conservation Services. Lotta’s Fountain is designated San Francisco Landmark #73 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, #75000475.

About the San Francisco Arts Commission 
The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment, and shaping innovative cultural policy. SFAC programs include the Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. Learn more at sfartscommission.org.