Lotta's Fountain

Lotta Crabtree Fountain
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
San Francisco Designated Landmark #73
Show map of San Francisco County Show map of California Show map of the US
Location	Market, Geary, and Kearny Sts., San Francisco, California
Coordinates	37°47′17″N 122°24′13″W / 37.78806°N 122.40361°W / 37.78806; -122.40361Coordinates: 37°47′17″N 122°24′13″W / 37.78806°N 122.40361°W / 37.78806; -122.40361
Area	0.1 acres (0.040 ha)
Built	1875
NRHP Reference #	75000475
SFDL #	73
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	June 20, 1975
Designated SFDL	1975

Lotta's fountain is a historical fountain located at the intersection of Market Street, where Geary and Kearny Streets connect in downtown San Francisco, California.

The cast-iron fountain, commission by actress Lotta Crabtree as a gift to the city of San Francisco, was dedicated September 9, 1875. During its centennial it designated both a San Francisco Designated Landmarks and the U.S National Historic Places.

A plaque commemorates its role as a meeting point in the aftermath 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. Another plaque mentions legendary opera soprano Luisa Tetrazzini, who sang for the people of San Francisco at the fountain on Christmas Eve, 1910. The bronze column was added in 1916 to match the height of new lights being installed along Market Street.

It was relocated from its original location at 3rd, Market and Kearny in 1974 during the renovation of Market Street. In 1999 the fountain, neglected, was totally refurbished to its 1875 appearance, repainted a metallic gold-brown. Its lion's-head spigots flow during daytime hours.

In 1919, a commemoration of the earthquake was started that still occurs annually. The South of Market Boys, a fraternal drinking organization, hung a wreath on the fountain. Since then, survivors of the earthquake gathered every year at 5:12 a.m. on April 18 at the intersection. After the 2015 anniversary, the last two survivors of the earthquake died. In 2016, the tradition continued as more than 200 participants, many in period costuming, gathered to commemorate all victims of the earthquake and to draw attention to earthquake preparedness.