Bayview Opera House (BVOH)

The Bayview Opera House stands as the oldest existing theater in San Francisco, with its roots stretching back to 1888. Despite its grand name, the building has never hosted a single opera performance. It was constructed by the local South San Francisco Masonic Lodge number 212 as a multipurpose performance hall for the community. The Italianate Victorian structure was designed to project voices clearly to the rafters without the need for modern electronic amplification, a feat of acoustic engineering that remains effective today.