S.F. Mint Museum Shuts Its Doors

The granite and sandstone Old Mint--a south of Market landmark since 1874--closed its doors Thursday, a victim of cost-cutting and fears that its $4-million display of gold bars was too tempting a target.

The gold, 10,000 ounces of it, was removed last week from the building, which was declared a national landmark in 1961. “This was a surprise, even for us,” said Herby Lam, curator at the mint, which has been a museum since 1976.

An announcement by the U.S. Treasury Department said the gold, the museum’s main attraction, “imposed a significant security risk.” The unprofitable sales center at the museum, which attracted about 83,000 visitors a year, was also a major factor in the government’s decision to close it.

The building, one of the finest examples of federal classic revival architecture in the West, was left intact and virtually alone after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Photos of the fortress-like mint standing amid the rubble are among San Francisco’s most famous.

No decision has been reached on the building’s future, a department spokeswoman said. She added that its landmark status ensures it will not be razed.