Express Building
The Institute's first location was established in a $25-per-month room on the fourth floor of the Express Building on the northeast corner of Montgomery and California Streets.

Exterior, 1855

First Mechanics' Institute Pavilion

First Mechanics' Institute Pavilion

Second Mechanics' Institute Industrial Pavilion
Southwest corner of Montgomery and Sutter Streets. Erected 1860.

Portraits
Stereopticon slide. Series number 433.
From Mechanics' Institute 3rd Industrial Exposition, 1860.

Bird artwork
Stereopticon slide. Series number 462.
From Mechanics' Institute 3rd Industrial Exposition, 1860.

Octagon house
Stereopticon slide. Series number 627.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Sculpture
Stereopticon slide. Series number 637.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Goddess
Stereopticon slide. Series number 638.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Waxwork
Stereopticon slide. Series number 639.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Fruit
Stereopticon slide. Series number 640.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Millinery
Stereopticon slide. Series number 641.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Busts
Stereopticon slide. Series number 642.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Woolens1
Stereopticon slide. Series number 643.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.

Woolens2
Stereopticon slide. Series number 644.
From Mechanics' Institute 4th Industrial Exposition, 1864.