It was a gift to the city from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels and is one of the largest bandshells in North America.

In 1895, discussions began about building a larger bandshell to accommodate the "Sunday and holiday crowds.

Spreckels gave a speech about his gratitude for the benefits he received as an immigrant and that he had chosen to build a bandstand because music was uplifting and should be '"rendered free to all.

My wish is that the pavilion, and the music which will flow forth from it may be incentives to artistic aspirations among all the people of California, and help them to find that happiness, which humanity is to attain in this golden land, in a more abundant degree than in any other under the whole heavens.

[5] After the Loma Prieta earthquake, FEMA and the Office of Emergency Services spent $3.1 million on seismic upgrades.