Can you imagine a hidden gem beneath our feet? Right here, under Civic Center Plaza, lies the Brooks Exhibit Hall. Originally called the Civic Center Exhibit Hall, it opened in 1958. The hall cost a whopping $4,500,000 to build, a sum equivalent to about $47,520,000 today. Brooks Exhibit Hall spans an impressive 90,000 square feet. It’s named after Thomas A. Brooks, a chief administrative officer for San Francisco who retired the same year the building opened. During construction, the press nicknamed it “Mole Hall” and “Gopher Palace,” much to the annoyance of then-Mayor George Christopher. One of the hall’s most notable events was the 1958 American Medical Association convention. Artist Salvador Dalí created “Crisalida,” a 60-foot silk cocoon, for the event. This promoted the tranquilizer Miltown and garnered national attention. Brooks Exhibit Hall also hosted the first Macworld convention in 1985. This was a pivotal moment for Apple. Contrary to popular belief, the 1968 “Mother of All Demos” wasn’t held here, but at the nearby Civic Auditorium. Brooks Hall closed in 1993 due to the Main Library’s construction. It now serves primarily as storage for library books and historical artifacts, including the massive 7,000-pipe Exposition Organ. There have been numerous proposals for its renovation, from a parking garage to a multimedia production center. The future of Brooks Exhibit Hall remains uncertain, a silent space beneath the bustling city.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to