Contemporary Jewish Museum

The Contemporary Jewish Museum is unmistakable for its jagged, vibrant blue steel exterior that seems to collide with the historic red brick wall of the original structure. This building began its life in eighteen eighty-one as the Jessie Street Power Substation. After the devastating nineteen zero-six earthquake and fire, the substation was rebuilt by architect Willis Polk. Polk designed the facility in a classical revival style, decorating the industrial power plant with terra cotta arches, garlands, and cherubs to satisfy the City Beautiful movement, a philosophy that argued beautiful architecture could foster civic virtue in the general public. For many years, the building remained largely hidden from view, tucked away in a blind alleyway where few people ever saw its fine brickwork.