Memberships. Has our society lost the meaning of the concept? Is life so fluid that committing to belonging somewhere is no longer relevant? Enter: the Mechanics’ Institute Library & Chess Room. What? Not a boutique gym? You want me to belong to a CHESS CLUB? Hang with us for a second...
While yes, this is home to the oldest continuously operating chess club in the United States, the Mechanics’ Institute also offers anything a curious and creative mind could want to find in the heart of a city’s industrial skyrise center. From cultural events, film clubs, skill-based workshops, DVDs, books, computers, and a space to work/hang/read, the Mechanic’s Institute Library has it all. The rich history of the building and the library itself dates back to pre-SF earthquake days, back when being a “mechanic” meant anyone who worked with their hands. Its purpose was to serve as a place for an adult to learn a new skill: drawing, math, language, etc. Now, on top of the usual schedule of events, the library hosts a Tuesday night marathon which brings around 140 players almost every week. People from all ages and ethnicities come together to share an experience that was once won by a 12 year-old girl, and has included famous participants in the past such as Humphrey Bogart and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The beautiful thing about the chess tournaments is no matter who you are and where you come from, when all is said and done and it’s time to play: you just simply take a seat.
A bonus gem to the building’s character lies in the lobby, where a mural sketched in 1906 and finished in 1917 pays homage to the mission: helping members with creative achievements. The theme nods to the history of the space, and items lost in the 1906 fire. Back then, the collection was heavy on the humanities, so the mural was commissioned to represent their rich cultural history and values. Featured in the mural is a building that many mistake for the Palace of Fine Arts, though while the designer of that building worked with the mural artist, the image predates the palace itself.
