Golden Gate Park
Golden Gate Park ismain urban parkSan Francisco, California. At 1017 (1013?) acres,islong rectangle, similarshape but considerably larger than New York's Central Park. In1860s, San Franciscans beganfeelneed forspacious public park likeone that was taking shapeNew York. Though Frederick Law Olmsted was askedpresentplan in1860s,was not implemented. Golden Gate Park was carved outunpromising sandshore dunes that were known as'outside land.' The tireless field engineer William Hammond Hall (1846 - 1934) preparedsurveytopographic map ofPark site1870became commissioner1871. He was later named California's first State Engineerdeveloped an integrated flood control system forSacramento Valley when he was not working onPark.The actual planplanting were developed by Hallhis assistant, John McLaren, who had apprenticedScotland,sourcemany of19th century's best professional gardeners. The initial plan calledgrade separationstransverse roadways throughpark, as Olmsted had providedCentral Park, but budget constraints andpositioning ofArboretum andConcourse abortedplan. In 1876,plan was almost exchanged forracetrack favored by "the Big Four" millionaires, Leland Stanford, Mark Hopkins, Collis P. Huntington,Charles Crocker. Hall resignedallpark commissioners followed him. Fortunately forcity,original plan was soon back on track. By 1886, streetcars delivered over 47,000 peopleGolden Gate Park on one weekend afternoon;city's population attime was about 250,000. Hall selected McLaren as his successor1887.
The first stage stabilizedocean dunes that covered three-quarters ofpark area,tree plantings. By 1875, about 60,000 trees, mostly blue gum eucalyptus, Monterey PineMonterey Cypress were planted. By 1879, that figure more than doubled155,000 trees over 1,000 acres. Later McLaren scouredworld through his correspondentstrees. Only Bolivia escaped his net. When McLaren refusedretire at age 60, as was customary,City government was bombardedletters: when he reached 70charter amendment was passedexempt him from forced retirement. He livedMcLaren Lodge inPark until he died at age 90,1943.
Major features
The Japanese Tea Garden, an immensely popular feature, was originally built as part ofsprawling Midwinter Fair. Begun by an Australian1894, the first Japanese garden inU.S. this intricate complexperhaps too many paths, ponds andteahouse features native JapaneseChinese plants. Also hidden throughout its five acresbeautiful sculpturesbridges. Makato Hagiwara,Japanese gardener whose family took overgarden from 18951942, was alsoinventor offortune cookie. A persistent legend records thatJapanese ambassador after being shown its features,asked his opinion, gasped, "We have nothingequalin Japan."
The M.H. de Young Museum was opened January 1921. Its original building had been partan 1893 exposition,Midwinter Fair, held withinpark.
The California AcademySciences,complex oflibrary,research lab,planetarium, an aquarium andnatural-history museum,also sitedGolden Gate Park.
The Strybing Arboretum, was laid out ijn1890s, but funding was insufficient until Helene Strybing willed funds1926. Planting was begun1937WPA funds supplemented by local donations. This this 70-acre arboretum contains more than 6,000 plant species.
A paddock corralssmall herdbison, captive here since 1892.
The "ConservatoryFlowers"one ofworld's largest builttraditional woodglass construction. It has sufferedcheckered career. It was was pre-fabricatedlocal entrepreneur James Lickhis Santa Clara, California, estate, but was stillits crtates when he died1876. A groupSan Franciscans bought it, offeredtocity,it was erectedGolden Gate Parkopened topublic1879. But1883boiler exploded andmain dome caught fire. Charles Crocker restored it. It survivedearthquake1906 onlysuffer another fire1918. In 1933was declared unsoundclosed topublic until 1946. In 1995severe storm100 mph winds shattered 40% ofglass damaged itit hadbe closed again,cautiously dissectedrepairswas finally reopenedSeptember 2003.
The AIDS Memorial Grove has beenprogress since 1988is stillonly national AIDS memorial inU.S.. "Part ofbeauty ofgrovethat asmemorial which receives no federal money, itblessedly removed fromfight overcontroversyAIDS," said Thom Weyand,Grove's executive director.
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