About Us

The San Francisco Senior Center (SFSC) opened in Aquatic Park in 1947 as the first nonprofit senior center in the United States. It began with a bold idea: to create a place where older adults could come together, learn, and build community.

From Isolation to Inspiration

In 1947, San Francisco resident Charles Rose was forced to leave his job due to his advancing age. He noticed how his outlook improved when he spent time with other retirees instead of feeling isolated in his one-room apartment. He envisioned creating a place where aging friends could gather and socialize.

That same year, the city of San Francisco was looking for a new use for the Aquatic Park Bathhouse, a public bathing center that the U.S. military had used as a lookout post during World War II. After learning about the vacant bathhouse, Mr. Rose and his friends encouraged city officials to use the building as a gathering space for older adults. After many meetings with the mayor and politicians, it was finally decided to turn part of the building into a recreation center for retired people. This was a turning point because, at that time, the United States had no major organized social or recreational programs for aging adults.

A Visionary Leader

The city put the new center into the capable hands of Florence Vickery, a social worker with innovative ideas about aging. She believed that isolated older adults would benefit from accessing recreation, services, and opportunities to build community. Under Ms. Vickery’s leadership, the vision for a senior center became a reality. After founding the San Francisco Senior Center, she served as its director until 1967 and wrote several books on social aging.

More than a thousand adults across San Francisco flocked to the center in its first year. SFSC became so popular that the building’s lower floor was remodeled to add more classroom and workshop space and an elevator.

Making History

SFSC made history again in 1966 when its downtown branch became the first senior center in California to receive funding from the Older Americans Act. In 1985, the downtown center moved to its current location on 481 O’Farrell Street, which tripled its space for programs and social services.

Today, SFSC continues to create powerful programs that spark creativity and build human connection for seniors in the San Francisco Bay Area. Whether it’s art classes, support groups, Living Well, Aging Well programs, social services, fitness classes, or nutritious meals, there’s something for everyone. Join us, and let’s keep making history.