Monumental Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, and Western Neighborhoods Project is honoring this milestone in a variety of ways as an official Community Partner of the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

Before we began sheltering in place in early March, we were preparing to unveil our newest exhibition, "Monumental Golden Gate Park," at our Home for History at 1617 Balboa Street. Co-curated by the park's Historian in Residence, Christopher Pollock, this exhibition will feature incredible relics from the past not seen by the public in decades; one special piece has been hidden from view for over 60 years! It will also include gorgeous watercolors and illustrations by Richmond District resident Patrick Mahar.

Make no mistake about it: this park is absolutely monumental. Carved out of sand dunes in the Outside Lands, legislation officially created Golden Gate Park on April 4, 1870. Since that time it has been an inspiration to and also a reflection of San Francisco. Statues, structures, recreation areas, and memorial spaces show us what was important to people of the past. They speak to the simultaneous devotion of immigrant communities to their birth countries and their adopted home; to times of peril like wars and health crises; to great men and women such as presidents, generals, and civic-minded San Franciscans; and to an appreciation of natural resources, art, science, and culture.

We'll get that exhibition up and running soon, but, in the meantime, you can explore that theme remotely from the comfort of your own home. Here you'll find articles, videos, podcasts, and historic photographs that will keep you entertained for hours.

Please enjoy this selection, explore the rest of our site, and consider making a tax-deductible donation to support the work (if you can).

- Nicole Meldahl, Executive Director, Western Neighborhoods Project

Western Neighborhoods Project is a proud partner with San Francisco Recreation and Parks and San Francisco Parks Alliance in the Golden Gate Park 150th Anniversary Celebration throughout 2020.

Random Articles (see all articles)

The Odyssey of the Original Beach Chalet
The drama and travels of San Francisco's first Beach Chalet. ( May 25, 2011)

Streetwise: Windmill Walk
Designed to pump 40,000 gallons of water an hour for the park's irrigation needs, the Murphy Windmill was a gift from banker Samuel G. Murphy back in 1905. ( Jan 1, 2005)

Streetwise: Stormy Weather in the Western Neighborhoods
Revisit rainy days on the west side. ( Mar 9, 2023)

Monastery Stones of GGP
A monastery chapel's odyssey in Golden Gate Park ( Jan 29, 2007)

The Gjoa and the Roald Amundsen monument
A famous ship that spent decades in the Golden Gate Park ( Jan 1, 2006)

Streetwise: Summertime in the Western Neighborhoods
Join Frank Dunnigan for a celebration of west side summer activities. ( Aug 11, 2023)

Streetwise: Lost School Buildings of the Western Neighborhoods
Go back - way back - to school with Frank Dunnigan ( Sep 8, 2023)

Murphy Windmill
A gift to the city from banker Samuel G. Murphy, the now sail-less windmill was the largest in the world when it was built. ( Jan 1, 2006)

Goethe-Schiller Monument
Just off the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park, a large statue memorializes two friends, Germany's most famous philosopher poets, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller. ( May 1, 2020)

Golden Gate Park Bums
1937 article about the "bums" (some professional) who play baseball in Golden Gate Park ( Mar 2, 2007)

Streetwise: Costumed Western Neighborhoods
Frank Dunnigan explores the many ways that the west side dresses for the occasion. ( Oct 13, 2023)

Westerly Winds: Early Aviation in the Outside Lands
Robert G. Fowler/s flight from the Polo Fields to cross the country in 1911. ( Dec 1, 2016)

Random Podcasts (see all podcasts)

Podcast # 66: Stow Lake
The biggest lake in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and William W. Stow, the guy it's named after. Pass us a brick of pink popcorn! (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Apr 11, 2014)

Podcast # 35: The Gjoa
The story of the Gjoa, a fishing sloop that traversed the Northwest Passage and ended up in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park from 1909 to 1972. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Sep 6, 2013)

Podcast # 600: Monarch the Bear
Rebekah shares the sad story of Monarch the Bear, who spent much of his life in Golden Gate Park and his entire afterlife at the Academy of Sciences. You won't want to miss this episode that dispels stubborn myths, and reveals that the park once had a designated huntsman (that may or may not have looked like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast). (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast May 3, 2026)

Podcast # 370: Monuments of Golden Gate Park (Classic Episode)
Our Monumental Golden Gate Park event has been postponed. But to whet your appetite, we present a Classic Episode where David and Woody chat about their five favorite Golden Gate Park statues. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Mar 20, 2020)

Podcast # 302: Transpacific Cable
In December 1902, a communications connection to Asia was launched from San Francisco's Ocean Beach. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Nov 24, 2018)

Podcast # 538: Spreckels Lake
Nicole and Drew are at Spreckels Lake where they chat with San Francisco Model Yacht Club Commodore Rob Weaver and dive into the origins of a favorite Golden Gate Park feature. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Aug 10, 2024)

Podcast # 406: Intrigue at the Museum
George Barron was the curator of the de Young Museum who at times, had flashes of P.T. Barnam. Special guest Judi Leff joins the pod to regale us with stories of the colorful curator. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Nov 21, 2020)

Podcast # 78: Top Five Statues of Golden Gate Park
David and Woody offer their top five favorite statues of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park: a president, a novelist, a mother, a poet, and a gardener. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Jul 5, 2014)

Podcast # 1: Kezar Stadium
(Listen to Episode #224 instead!) Woody and David discuss the old Kezar Stadium in Golden Gate Park (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Jan 4, 2013)

Podcast # 434: Photographers Watkins and Taber
When viewing images on OpenSFHistory.org, you may notice some of most memorable photos of early San Francisco are credited to either Carleton Watkins or Isaiah West Taber. As competitors, they photographed notable sites in the City, including the West Side, and have a surprising connection with one another. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Jul 17, 2021)

Podcast # 221: Japanese Tea Garden
Gardener and historian Steven Pitsenbarger gives the story of Golden Gate Park's crown jewel. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Apr 22, 2017)

Podcast # 131: Portals of the Past
The story of the famous classical columns at Lloyd Lake in Golden Gate Park, and where they came from. (Outside Lands San Francisco Podcast Jul 18, 2015)

All Video

Elk Glen Lake
Golden Gate Park's Elk Glen Lake is elkless now. (SF West History Minute Jan 10, 2013)

Jimmy's Old Car Picnic
Jimmy's Old Car Picnic is an annual tradition in Golden Gate Park (SF West History Minute Oct 11, 2009)

Grove of Memory
A Golden Gate Park memorial to those who died serving in war. (SF West History Minute May 27, 2010)

Hydrant Seek
Jamie O'Keefe discusses the ebbs and flows of San Francisco's differing fire hydrants (SF West History Minute May 15, 2013)

Golden Gate Park's Oak Woodlands
In the built environment of Golden Gate Park, there is at least one historically natural place. (SF West History Minute Feb 18, 2014)

The Breon Gate
Why is there a huge gate at 19th and Lincoln? (SF West History Minute Sep 1, 2009)

Kezar Stadium
For over 90 years, People have gathered at the Southeast corner of Golden Gate Park (SF West History Minute Apr 15, 2017)

Seventh Avenue Station
Lindsey Fryar tells us what that odd shed is at 7th Avenue and Fulton Street. (SF West History Minute Oct 4, 2010)

Speedway Meadow
How did Speedway Meadow get its name? Ask the people at Jimmy's Old Car Picnic. (SF West History Minute Dec 12, 2011)

Prayerbook Cross
Golden Gate Park's Prayerbook Cross commemorates Sir Francis Drake (SF West History Minute Feb 14, 2013)

Random Images (see more images)

Haight & Stanyan,1988

Ocean Beach,1900

Sharon Building,1974

Kezar Pavilion,1970s

Golden Gate Park,1915

Golden Gate Park,1899

Golden Gate Park,1940s

Golden Gate Park,1925

Midwinter Fair,1894

Gjoa sailing ship,1972

Golden Gate Park,Mar 1990

Golden Gate Park,Apr 1906

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The Western Neighborhoods Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 94-3339377) dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of western San Francisco neighborhoods.