Things to do nearWar Memorial Opera House

The War Memorial Opera House opened in 1932 as part of the city's Civic Center complex, a cohesive ensemble of Beaux-Arts government buildings that remains one of the most architecturally unified civic districts in the United States. Designed by Arthur Brown Jr., who also designed San Francisco City Hall, the building was conceived as a memorial to soldiers who served in World War I, giving it a weight and purpose that goes beyond entertainment. Its place in history deepened considerably in 1945, when the United Nations Charter was signed within its walls, making the War Memorial Opera House one of the few performing arts venues in the world to have hosted a founding moment of international diplomacy.

Inside, the auditorium seats roughly 3,000 people across orchestra, dress circle, balcony, and gallery levels, with sightlines and acoustics that have been refined over decades of use. San Francisco Opera, one of the largest opera companies in North America, anchors the fall and winter seasons here with productions ranging from core Italian and German repertoire to contemporary works. San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in the United States, takes over in winter and spring with a program that spans classical story ballets and modern choreography.

The building's public spaces, including its grand foyer with tall arched windows overlooking the plaza, are worth lingering in on their own terms. For anyone drawn to the intersection of architecture, history, and live performance, the War Memorial Opera House offers an experience that is genuinely singular to San Francisco.