Historic Landmarks of San Francisco

Founded by Rev. John T. Harrington, St. Mary's College was first located in the basement of Old St. Mary's Church at Grant and California Streets. In August 1863 Bishop Alemany laid the cornerstone of a new facility in San Francisco's Outer Mission District. The Gothic building was located on the 200-foot crest of what came to be known as College Hill. The faculty at that time consisted of two priests, four laymen, and two student teachers.

In 1868 the Christian Brothers took over the administration of St. Mary's College. Four years later the institution was officially incorporated as a college, with students accredited to the University of California at Berkeley. In 1889 St. Mary's moved to Oakland. Thirty-nine years later, in 1928, the college again moved, this time to Moraga, its present location.

St. Mary's Park, a quiet residential area, now occupies the second site of the college. A bronze state plaque, handsomely mounted on a pink stucco column complete with red tile roof and mission bell, marks the spot. The plaque was dedicated September 29, 1962, by the California State Park Commission, St. Mary's College and Alumni, and the California Historical Society. The column stands in the center of a traffic island at the beginning of College Street, near its intersection with Mission and Crescent Streets.