Van Ness/Civic Center

Several of the City’s major cultural and governmental buildings are located in the Van Ness/Civic Center neighborhood, along with the Civic Center Plaza and United Nations Plaza. The United Nations Charter was signed in the Herbst Theatre in 1945, and in 1987 the theater was declared a national historic landmark. Other buildings of note include City Hall, the Supreme Court of California, War Memorial Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall and the Art Institute of California. The area is brimming with history. The Van Ness Corridor (also known as Highway 101) is a veritable smorgasbord of wining and dining, retail, hotel and cultural opportunities. While the neighborhood is mostly commercial, residential properties can be found in high-rise condos, apartments, and even a few single-family homes amidst the low-rise commercial edifices. It is the epicenter for culture and the arts.