Conceived in the Gilded Age, the Ferry Building opened in 1898 as San Francisco’s portal to the world—the terminus of the transcontinental railway and a showcase of civic ambition. In silent films and World’s Fair postcards, nothing said “San Francisco” more than its soaring clocktower. But as acclaimed architectural critic John King recounts, the rise of cars and double-deck roads severed the city from its beloved structure. King’s narrative spans the rise and fall and rebirth of the Ferry Building, introducing colourful figures who fought to preserve its character (and the...