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Golden Gate Park in San Francisco covers 1,013 acres. It is approximately three miles long and one-half mile wide. William Hammond Hall designed the park in 1870, but John McLaren, his successor as park superintendent, implemented the design. Hall, inspired by the Olmsted/Vaux design of Central Park in New York City, created a hilly park with a varying landscape of lakes, meadows, ridges, and winding roads. The park now contains more than one million trees, nine lakes, several fly-casting pools, and a lily pool within its borders.

In the east part of the park are The Conservatory of Flowers, a Victorian greenhouse built around 1880 modeled after the Palm House at Kew Garden in London; the Japanese Tea Garden, which covers five acres; and the M. H. DeYoung Museum, which has a diverse collection of fine art. These latter two attractions were legacies of the 1894 Midwinter International Exhibition. Other attractions in the park include the Buffalo Paddock; Planetarium; Asian Art Museum; Aquarium; and a 70-acre arboretum. The park's meadows are used extensively for picnicking. The attractions within Golden Gate add to its cumulative impact, but it is the inherent beauty of the park that mainly attracts its 12 million annual visitors.

A rectangle, it is similar in shape but 20% larger than Central Park in New York, to which it is often compared. It is over three miles (5 km) long east to west, and about half a mile north to south

How large is Golden Gate Park? 1,017 acres (about 175 acres larger than Central Park in New York)

How many people visit Golden Gate Park each year? 13 million

How long is Golden Gate Park? 3 miles

How wide is Golden Gate Park? ½ mile

How many different ways can I enter Golden Gate Park by car?
The main drive-in entrance is located from the Panhandle via Fell St to JFK Drive. The second most-used entrance is from 9th Avenue (off of Lincoln Blvd), which offers easy access to many different park sights. There are 19 other access points for people driving into the park.

How much does it cost to enter Golden Gate Park?
During the day, Golden Gate Park is free. Special attractions, such as the museums require fees (including Japanese Tea Garden and Conservatory of Flowers).

When is the park closed? On foot, visitors are not allowed in the park between midnight and 5am.

Is the park ever closed to cars?
Half the day on Saturdays and all Sundays, JFK Drive is closed to cars from Stanyan to Park Presidio – a delight for bikers and skaters.

How popular is Golden Gate Park?
The park is the third most visited park in the United States – beaten only by Central Park in New York City and Lincoln Park in Chicago.

Measuring more than 1,000 acres, the Golden Gate Park has stood as a symbol of natural beauty, easily earning the title as one of the most visited city parks in all of America. As San Franciscans turned their attention to the happenings of New York City's Central Park, residents began to yearn for their own scenic community dwelling. Today, although similar in shape, Golden Gate Park possesses an array of unique and one-of a-kind features that sets it apart from other urban settings.

During the 1860s, plans were put into motion to transform the bleak sand and shore dunes that decorated San Francisco into a usable, inviting park for the all to enjoy. In 1870, a field engineer named William Hammond Hill organized a survey and developed a topographic map that would serve as the blueprint for the new park site. One year later, he was deemed commissioner of the project. At first, the park plans were met with natural opposition as engineers attempted to sketch a course of action that would add traverse roadways throughout the park. The positioning of gems, such as the Concourse and the Arboretum, made this difficult to achieve.

In the beginning, ¾ of the park was covered in ocean dunes, but were soon blanketed with various tree plantings. By 1875, the area bloomed with close to 60,000 trees, such as the Blue Gum Eucalyptus and the Monterey Pine. Four years later, 155,000 trees were placed over 1,000 acres of land. In 1903, the Dutch Windmills found their home at the western end of the park with an initial duty to pump water and life throughout the park.

Throughout the years, Golden Gate Park saw the establishment of a wealth of intriguing and entertaining attractions. To name a few, the Japanese Tea Garden welcomed visitors after it originally served as part of the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. The plans for the San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum were realized during the 1890s, but planting was stalled until 1937 due to lack of sufficient funds. Local donations helped place the garden on the map. The De Young Museum was first built in 1921 and has since undergone complete renovation and re-opened in 2005.
Changes Throughout the Years

With the evolving times of society and whatever Mother Nature decided to throw at Golden Gate Park, a variety of features or buildings have changed since its start. Over the years, earthquakes and severe storms have weakened some of the structures scattered throughout the park, causing a wave of renovations. In 1995, a major storm with 100 mph winds wreaked havoc on the Conservatory of Flowers, shattering 40% of the glass, until it was once again opened in 2003 after dramatic repair.

In 1989, buildings at the Academy of Sciences were damaged when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck San Francisco. The Bird Hall building was shut down to ensure the safety of visitors and the Steinhart Aquarium suffered considerable seismic damage. The site is scheduled to reopen in 2008.

Golden Gate Park has also seen a wide-range of wildlife, captive critters, and flora blossom on the premises. In the past, moose, caribou, moose, and antelope galloped throughout the meadows. At the Children's Playground, chickens once scattered about an imitation barn while donkeys and goats gave rides to younger visitors. Throughout the years, zebras, elephants, kangaroos, ostriches, and peacocks once paraded about the grounds. In 1927, Park Superintendent, John McLaren thought it best to allow the park animals space at the San Francisco Zoological Gardens and relocated the residents to their new home. Today, the only odd creature to call the park, "home" is the bison located at Buffalo Paddock.
de Young Museum

Attractions
de Young Museum
Academy of Sciences
Conservatory of Flowers
Strawberry Hill
Beach and Park Chalet
Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park

Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park
Children's Playground

Attractions
Children's Playground
Golden Gate Park Buffalo Paddock

Attractions
Golden Gate Park Buffalo Paddock
Park Windmills

Attractions
Park Windmills

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