Fleishhacker Pool
Encyclopedia
Fleishhacker Pool was a public saltwater swimming pool located in the southwest corner of San Francisco, California
next to the zoo
for 47 years. It was the largest swimming pool in the United States
and it was said that it could be seen from space.
It was built by philanthropist
and civic
leader Herbert Fleishhacker
in 1924, and opened April 22, 1925. The pool measured 1000 by, held 6500000 US gal (24,605,178 l) of seawater
, and accommodated 10,000 bathers. The pool was so large the lifeguards required kayak
s for patrol, and was used by the military for drills and exercises. The pool water was pumped from the Pacific Ocean, filtered and heated. The pool's heater could warm 2800 US gal (10,599.2 l) of seawater from 60 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit each minute. This resulted in a constant pool water temperature of 72 degrees for AAU swim meets.
The water provided by a series of pumps and piping at high tide
, directly from the Pacific Ocean
, 650 ft (198.1 m) away. There was also a diving pool measuring 50 ft (15.2 m) square and 14 ft (4.3 m) deep and a two tiered diving tower.
In 1999, the San Francisco Zoological Society was granted ownership of the pool house, and it is not known what might become of it. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo. The poolhouse is currently derelict and occupied by the homeless.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
next to the zoo
San Francisco Zoo
The San Francisco Zoo, housing more than 260 animal species, is a zoo located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco, California, between Lake Merced and the Pacific Ocean along the Great Highway...
for 47 years. It was the largest swimming pool in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and it was said that it could be seen from space.
Construction
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and civic
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
leader Herbert Fleishhacker
Herbert Fleishhacker
Herbert Fleishhacker , son of Aaron Fleishhacker and Delia Fleishhacker, was an American businessman, civic leader and philanthropist. He built Fleishhacker Pool, the world's largest swimming pool, in 1924....
in 1924, and opened April 22, 1925. The pool measured 1000 by, held 6500000 US gal (24,605,178 l) of seawater
Seawater
Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5% . This means that every kilogram of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts . The average density of seawater at the ocean surface is 1.025 g/ml...
, and accommodated 10,000 bathers. The pool was so large the lifeguards required kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s for patrol, and was used by the military for drills and exercises. The pool water was pumped from the Pacific Ocean, filtered and heated. The pool's heater could warm 2800 US gal (10,599.2 l) of seawater from 60 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit each minute. This resulted in a constant pool water temperature of 72 degrees for AAU swim meets.
The water provided by a series of pumps and piping at high tide
High Tide
High Tide was a band formed in 1969 by Tony Hill , Simon House , Peter Pavli and Roger Hadden .-History:...
, directly from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, 650 ft (198.1 m) away. There was also a diving pool measuring 50 ft (15.2 m) square and 14 ft (4.3 m) deep and a two tiered diving tower.
Decline
After years of underfunding and poor maintenance, the pool was showing some deterioration when a storm in January 1971 damaged its drainage pipe. Because the repair costs exceeded the City's budget, the pool was converted to a fresh water pool which resulted in poor water quality. As a result of the poor attempt at conversion and resulting water quality, the pool was closed by the end of 1971.In 1999, the San Francisco Zoological Society was granted ownership of the pool house, and it is not known what might become of it. The swimming pool itself was filled with rocks and gravel, with the space now serving as a parking lot for the zoo. The poolhouse is currently derelict and occupied by the homeless.