Dunes to Oasis

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Imagine this entire stretch of city as a wasteland of shifting sand dunes. That is exactly what Golden Gate Park was before it opened in 1870. It took a multiyear effort to transform those dunes into the lush, green oasis we see today.

Now, it covers over one thousand acres and draws about 24 million visitors every year. As you walk, you'll find everything from meadows and lakes to historic firsts, like the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers. It is a massive, open-air sanctuary that stays open 24 hours a day, year-round, offering a breath of fresh air right in the middle of the city.

Updated June 2026