324 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser, 



During the last fifteen or twenty years various efforts had 

 been made looking toward the establishment of a public 

 aquarium in San Francisco. One of the first to give the matter 

 serious consideration was Loyd Tevis, a public-spirited citizen 

 of San Francisco. After giving much time and thought to the 

 question and expending a considerable sum in making a study 

 of the aquariums of the world, unforeseen difficulties developed 

 which made it impracticable to carry out the purpose, much to 

 Mr. Tevis's regret. 



The next to take up the matter w-as Sigmund Steinhart, an- 

 other philanthropic citizen of San Francisco. At his death in 

 1910 he left a certain sum of money with his brother, Ignatz 

 Steinhart, with the request that it be used for aquarium pur- 

 poses, if he found it feasible to do so. Mr. Ignatz Steinhart 

 took up the matter at once and became deeply interested in it. 

 His wish and hope was to provide the city of San Francisco 

 and the people of the entire Pacific Coast with a modern, up-to- 

 date public aquarium. Numerous and diverse difficulties and 

 discouragements arose, however, and Mr. Steinhart had almost 

 abandoned the hope of ever being able to realize the dream of 

 his brother and himself. 



Early in 1916 Dr. Evermann, Director of the Museum, 

 had a number of conferences with Mr. Steinhart. with the 

 result that Mr. Steinhart's interest revived. Finally he an- 

 nounced, at an aquarium luncheon at the Palace Hotel, Sep- 

 tember 21, 1916, that he would undertake to provide a build- 

 ing adequate in every way for an aquarium equal to any now 

 existing if the city of San Francisco would make adequate 

 provision for its maintenance. He also announced that he 

 desired that the aquarium be located in Golden Gate Park and 

 that its control and management be placed with the California 

 Academy of Sciences. 



Following this, a charter amendment was drawn and sub- 

 mitted to the electorate of the city and county of San Francisco 

 at the election in November, 1916, which directs the super- 

 visors to include in their annual budget an item of not less than 

 $20,000 for the maintenance of a public aquarium. This 

 amendment carried by an overwhelming majority and Mr. 

 Steinhart at once began considering plans and specifications. 

 It was his earnest desire and hope to have the building com- 

 pleted and the aquarium in operation in his life time, but, to the 



