150 Years of Stories
Golden Gate Park has touched many generations over the course of its 150-year history. With that legacy comes a trove of stories, both old and new, that continue to preserve San Francisco’s vibrant culture. We invite you to experience these stories and to share yours with us.
From sand dunes to one of the country’s most iconic treasures. 1870 - 2020
In 1870, an act of the state legislature created Golden Gate Park, which skeptics said could never be built atop San Francisco’s sand dunes. However, a determined engineer, William Hammond Hall and master gardener John McLaren displaying the creativity and can-do spirit that has always been a part of San Francisco, figured out a way and the park then began rising from the city’s western sand dunes. Since that time, it has stood with a growing city as a haven from urban life to an important partner in key moments in the city’s history.
Experience the Park’s history…
Stow Lake, 1913 | Golden Gate Park, family posing near Rustic Bridge
To this day, the park boasts 24 million visits each year by those who come from across the city, the nation and the world to visit its historic institutions, take in concerts, participate in races, have a family picnic and enjoy activities from soccer and lawn bowling to hiking and fly casting. Golden Gate Park is home to the California Academy of Sciences, de Young Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco Botanical Garden, National AIDS Memorial, Stow Lake, a nine-hole golf course, Shakespeare Garden, Rose Garden, two windmills, a bison paddock, 6 children’s playgrounds, the Anglers Lodge and its casting pools, and so much more.
The California Academy of Sciences, by Renzo Piano - San Francisco, California
There is certainly something for all ages and interests to do within Golden Gate Park’s 1,017 acres that includes bicycling, roller skating, Segway tours, golf, disc golf, soccer, archery, swing dancing, drumming circles…and lots of picnics. VISIT THE PARK >
Thank you to OutsideLands.org and the Western Neighborhoods Project for access to their incredible collection of historical photos.