Grace Cathedral is an Episcopal cathedral on Nob Hill at 1100 California Street in San Francisco. Its French Gothic Revival design, high arches and stained-glass windows make the interior worth exploring, while two labyrinths offer a quieter way to experience the building. Look for the bronze entrance doors modeled on Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, along with murals and the Keith Haring altarpiece in the Interfaith AIDS Memorial Chapel. Concerts, art events and community programs also take place here; the Aura light-and-music event gives the architecture a different atmosphere.
A cathedral rebuilt on Nob Hill
Grace Cathedral stands at 1100 California Street, on Nob Hill. Its story reaches back to 1849, when a small parish church was built during the Gold Rush. The 1906 earthquake destroyed the earlier church. The Crocker family gave land on Nob Hill for the present cathedral, whose construction began in the late 1920s and finished in 1964.
Architect Lewis Hobart designed the building in a French Gothic Revival style. Its pointed arches and tall windows recall European cathedrals, but the structure uses reinforced concrete, shaped to resemble stone. That framework was a response to San Francisco’s seismic conditions. The scale becomes clear inside the seven-bay nave, beneath arches that rise high above the floor.
Doors, windows and artworks
At the east entrance, the bronze Doors of Paradise are casts based on Lorenzo Ghiberti’s celebrated doors in Florence. Inside, stained glass fills large sections of the walls. Among the windows are scenes that bring together religious imagery and references to science; one includes Albert Einstein among swirling particles.
Murals by Jan Henryk de Rosen cover parts of the interior. They include references to the 1906 earthquake and the signing of the United Nations Charter in 1945. In the Interfaith AIDS Memorial Chapel, a bronze altarpiece by Keith Haring is dedicated to people affected by AIDS. Haring completed it shortly before his death in 1990.
Labyrinths and the cathedral’s program
Grace Cathedral has two labyrinths, one indoors and one outdoors. Their paths are intended for walking meditation, and the labyrinths are also used for yoga, music and other gatherings. The indoor floor pattern draws on the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral. Take time to follow the path at a comfortable pace, leaving room for other people using the space.
The cathedral’s calendar includes artistic, musical and community programs, as well as worship. Aura is a light-and-music event that uses the cathedral’s architecture as part of the experience. Other offerings have included concerts, yoga and sound-bath events. Check the official website for the current program, tour information and visitor arrangements before setting out.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is Grace Cathedral?
It is at 1100 California Street in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood.
What are the main things to see inside Grace Cathedral?
Look for the stained-glass windows, Jan Henryk de Rosen murals, indoor labyrinth and Keith Haring altarpiece in the Interfaith AIDS Memorial Chapel. The bronze entrance doors are modeled on Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise.
Does Grace Cathedral have an outdoor labyrinth?
Yes. There is one labyrinth outdoors and another inside the cathedral.
Does Grace Cathedral host events?
Yes. Its program includes artistic, musical and community events. Aura is a light-and-music event; check the cathedral’s website for current dates and details.
