WEEK 4:

With 13 million visitors annually, Golden Gate Park is the third most visited city park in the United States after Central Park in New York City and Lincoln Park in Chicago. This beautiful park is in fact 20% larger in size than Central Park. [1] In the 1860‘s San Francisco decided a park similar to Central Park’s was important for the city. It wasn’t always an area filled with beautiful greenery and large trees; originally the land was sand dunes that were known as the “Outside Lands.” This uninhabitable land, owned at the time by the U.S. government, was petitioned to be declared part of San Francisco.  William Hammond Hall was appointed engineer of the park, and because of the beautiful place he built, San Francisco locals and tourists are able to enjoy this wonderful place. It also served as a place for refuges, during the 1906 earthquake, to stay as thousands were displaced from their homes. This park is significant to the history of San Francisco, and is as much if not more of an icon to the city nowadays. The 1000 acres the park entails brings about something for all people of San Francisco to enjoy. There is something for everyone to do here at the park, a reason why it is a popular destination for people, during all times of the year.

Today Golden Gate hosts many different activities, such as lawn bowling, tennis, baseball and softball, croquet, and so much more. It is home to many famous museums and gardens including the DeYoung Museum, Conservatory of Flowers, the Japanese Tea Gardens, California Academy of Sciences, and many famous sculptures. Though we didn’t enter into the museums, we were able to observe them from the outside. Each museum we saw had its own original feel to it. They were all very abstract. For example the design of the DeYoung museum is very abnormal, with the outside constructed of natural materials, including copper, stone, wood and glass. In fact the buildings copper outside is created to replicate the impression made by light filtering through the tree canopy in the park. The sign outside the museum is just as abstract as its architecture. One thing I loved about the outside of this museum was the small circular tags, which recognized the people that had donated to the museum. Until you approach the wall very closely, you aren’t able to read the names of these people. As you stand far away the wall simply looks like a glass wall with a textured polkadot wall. The other buildings we visited all had different feels to them as well. The Japanese Tea Gardens lacked any big signs advertising what the place was; it is mostly identifiable by the breath taking Japanese style entryway. The Conservatory of Flowers had very simple signage to match the clean, all white, Victorian building that houses thousands of flowers inside.

The park has statues placed all around the area. Some of these statues are to remember people who helped with the creation of the park, some were donated from different places, like England, and others serve as remembrances for people. Through looking at the sculptures and the statues, one can see the history that was involved in this park. As most of them are old, dating back over a century if not more, the statues and sculptures are representing the past. For example, the Gustave Dore Vase, a 6,000 pound cast bronze vessel, was displayed at the Midwinter Fair that was held in Golden Gate Park. Another statue was of John McLaren, a horticulturist who served as the superintendent of the park for 53 years. McLaren dedicated much of his life to the development of the park. His statue is found standing back in the plants of a garden along a long quiet path, a unique place if you ask me. Statues make up a large part of the art in Golden Gate Park.

Signage is important to the development of the Golden Gate Park for many reasons. The park is gigantic, without maps around the area people, including me, would be lost instantly. While on my walk through Golden Gate Park I found that I wasn’t able to find a few monuments and destinations without the help of the maps that were posted around the area. The signs help to pay tribute to many people, as well as recognize many people in history. On almost every park bench there were little plaques recognizing someone who had died. I felt as if the memorials and signs recognizing the deceased, gives the park a very peaceful atmosphere. However, unlike the other sites we have visited, Golden Gate Park didn’t have as many signs as others. Though there are maps and little plaques telling you about the statues, you don’t see many signs for advertisements. It was refreshing to not be overwhelmed with signs everywhere and with the lack of signage we were able to enjoy the important thing about the park; the beautiful nature.

Millions of people come to visit the park every year, however only a few of those millions know of all the amazing things that the park entails. Golden Gate Park offers a wide variety of art, museums, monuments, recreational activity and scenery. I have been visiting San Francisco for many years, and Golden Gate Park has always been a stop we make while on our trip. Though I have come many times, I was fascinated to learn about, and go to new places I had never been too. I am excited to be able to go visit the museums I haven’t yet visited, to be able to go for long walk and runs along the beautiful trails, and to escape campus to visit the lush, green park. 

On Sunday, September 30th, a week from our field trip, I attended a concert called Now and Zen in Golden Gate Park. I spent 5 hours in the park, soaking up the warm California weather, listening to amazing music. I was extremely satisfied that I was able to navigate myself perfectly to and from the park. I found myself able to direct all the people I was with, and was able to recognize my surroundings, for example where Haight Street was in relation to Golden Gate Park. I found this a notable moment in my last month and a half in San Francisco, and a key moment in this course. For the first time, because of all the exploring we have done in these areas, I was totally familiar with where I was. I must say it felt good to finally feel like a local.

[1] Stacy Asher Presentation