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Map of what to see and do in Golden Gate Park

There’s more to the park than museums and music festivals

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Golden Gate Park is San Francisco's grande dame of outdoor spaces, clocking in at just over 1,000 acres. Carved out of sand dunes in the 1870s in an unincorporated area west of San Francisco's then-current borders, the park draws millions of people every year.

Here now, Curbed presents a map of 23 of the best features Golden Gate Park has to offer, some super famous and some hidden treasures.

Of course, the deYoung Museum and Academy of Sciences are musts. You already know about those darlings. Which is why you won’t see them on this list. Let’s go beyond the big names and get to know the park outside of Outside Lands and on days other than 4/20.

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Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

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The Beach Chalet was designed by Willis Polk and opened in 1925 with a lounge and changing rooms on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor. The murals, mosaics, and wood carvings were funded later by the WPA.

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Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden

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Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (grandmother of the existing queen, Beatrix) donated the Dutch Windmill structure to the city in 1902. The tulip garden is named in her honor.

Murphy Windmill & Millwright Cottage

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Conceived by John McLaren, Adolph B. Spreckels and Reuben Lloyd, the two windmills standing near the Pacific Ocean in the western corners of Golden Gate Park were built at the beginning of the 20th Century to pump water into the park's irrigation system. Built in 1903 as the residence for the caretaker of the windmill, the Cottage was recently restored and at one point was eyed for a restaurant tenant.

Archery Range (Golden Gate Park)

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The only archery range in the city is free and offers 9 target bales. Shooters are responsible for furnishing their own targets and equipment, but can rent from the nearby San Francisco Archery Shop.

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Bercut Equitation Field

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The Bercut Equitation Field consists of a fenced arena with small grandstand and judging booth used for training of horses and riders. After an 18-year absence, public horseback riding has returned to the field care of Chaparral Ranch.

Trail rides and lessons range from $40 for a 30-minute ride to $80 for an hourlong ride. Pony rides are $15 for 15 minutes—or $1 per minute. Chaparral Ranch will also offer free rides for San Francisco public schools and underserved communities. 

A post shared by Dan (@snapshotguy415) on

Bison Paddock

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In 1890, a bison cow and bison bull were transported from Wyoming and Kansas to Golden Gate Park. More were added, and the herd at one point reached up to 30.

A post shared by Pepe TheLizart (@thelizart) on

Golden Gate Anglers Club

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The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club was organized in June 1933 as an offshoot of the San Francisco Fly Casting Club. The San Francisco Fly Casting Club, the second oldest casting club in the U.S., was founded in 1894, when the first tournament was held as Stow Lake. The WPA constructed the present Anglers' lodge and casting ponds in 1938.

A post shared by Jeff (@slowc0ast) on

SF Model Yacht Club WC

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The San Francisco Model Yacht Club dates back to 1898 and is believed to be the oldest such organization in the United States. The City built the clubhouse in 1937, which contains one of the world's largest vintage free-sailing-model collections.

Polo Fields

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The Golden Gate Park Stadium had a velodrome constructed for bike racing in 1906, which later became known as Polo Field.

A post shared by M.D. Walker (@m_p_e_a_) on

Portals of the Past at Lloyd Lake

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When the 1906 Earthquake and Fire destroyed all of the A.N. Towne mansion, all that remained was the front entranceway. It was later removed and brought over to Golden Gate Park as a memorial to the disaster.

A post shared by Virg (@virgsf2) on

Pioneer Log Cabin

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The Pioneer Log Cabin was built as a meeting house for the Association of Pioneer Women of California in 1911. It is constructed of unpeeled redwood logs from Humboldt County and was restored in 1995.

Stow Lake

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Stow Lake is a manmade lake dating back to 1893, popular for its rental pedal boats, 10-foot artificial waterfall, Chinese pagoda, and rustic bridges.

Strybing Arboretum

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Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a 55 acre site with more than 7,500 varieties of flora from across the world. It is the largest of its kind on the West Coast.

Japanese Tea Garden

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The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States was originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara and superintendent John McLaren reached a gentleman’s agreement, allowing Mr. Hagiwara to create and maintain a permanent Japanese style garden as a gift for posterity.

Music Concourse

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The main portion of San Francisco Landmark #249, the Spreckels Temple of Music was constructed in 1899 with money from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels and designed by the Reid Brothers.

A post shared by Herbert Ho (@dadahung) on

The Apple Cider Press

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The bronze sculpture by Thomas Shields was on display during the Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. People think it's a monument to wine making, when it's actually depicting apple cider pressing.

Shakespeare Garden

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Dating back to 1928, the Shakespeare Gardens incorporate plants and flowers mentioned within the works of William Shakespeare.

A post shared by Chris (@datzun280) on

Conservatory of Flowers

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Since opening in 1879, the Victorian greenhouse and adjacent botanical gardens have survived earthquakes, fires, and years of neglect. Thanks to a $25 million restoration that took place between 1998 and 2003, the conservatory continues to captivate both botanists and architecture lovers alike, just as it did when it opened 135 years ago.

Photo by Patricia Chang

Conservatory of Flowers

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As California Historical Landmark #841 and SF Landmark #50, conservatory was built in 1879 and has the honor of being California's first municipal greenhouse.

A post shared by Teri Cole (@cardgirl) on

Lawn Bowling Club

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Formed in 1901, the Lawn Bowling Club is the oldest lawn bowling club in the United States. The clubhouse was added in 1915.

Sharon Art Studio

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The Sharon Building as built in 1888 as a canteen for children and mothers visiting the Golden Gate Park Children's Quarters, and today operates as the Sharon Art Studio community art center.

Golden Gate Park Carousel

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There have been three carousels since the children's playground opened in 1888, but the current one a 1914 version built by the Herschell-Spillman Company. The carousel appeared as one of the main sights at the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island. It was restored in 1984.

A post shared by Bill Selby (@billselby1) on

McLaren Lodge

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SF Landmark #175 was built in 1896 built as the offices of the Park Commission, as well as the person home of the Park Superintendent, John McLaren for 47 years. Today the building serves as the headquarters of the Rec and Park Department.

Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

The Beach Chalet was designed by Willis Polk and opened in 1925 with a lounge and changing rooms on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor. The murals, mosaics, and wood carvings were funded later by the WPA.

A post shared by Beach Chalet (@beachchalet) on

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands (grandmother of the existing queen, Beatrix) donated the Dutch Windmill structure to the city in 1902. The tulip garden is named in her honor.

Murphy Windmill & Millwright Cottage

Conceived by John McLaren, Adolph B. Spreckels and Reuben Lloyd, the two windmills standing near the Pacific Ocean in the western corners of Golden Gate Park were built at the beginning of the 20th Century to pump water into the park's irrigation system. Built in 1903 as the residence for the caretaker of the windmill, the Cottage was recently restored and at one point was eyed for a restaurant tenant.

Archery Range (Golden Gate Park)

The only archery range in the city is free and offers 9 target bales. Shooters are responsible for furnishing their own targets and equipment, but can rent from the nearby San Francisco Archery Shop.

A post shared by nae (@thenaelena) on

Bercut Equitation Field

The Bercut Equitation Field consists of a fenced arena with small grandstand and judging booth used for training of horses and riders. After an 18-year absence, public horseback riding has returned to the field care of Chaparral Ranch.

Trail rides and lessons range from $40 for a 30-minute ride to $80 for an hourlong ride. Pony rides are $15 for 15 minutes—or $1 per minute. Chaparral Ranch will also offer free rides for San Francisco public schools and underserved communities. 

A post shared by Dan (@snapshotguy415) on

Bison Paddock

In 1890, a bison cow and bison bull were transported from Wyoming and Kansas to Golden Gate Park. More were added, and the herd at one point reached up to 30.

A post shared by Pepe TheLizart (@thelizart) on

Golden Gate Anglers Club

The Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club was organized in June 1933 as an offshoot of the San Francisco Fly Casting Club. The San Francisco Fly Casting Club, the second oldest casting club in the U.S., was founded in 1894, when the first tournament was held as Stow Lake. The WPA constructed the present Anglers' lodge and casting ponds in 1938.

A post shared by Jeff (@slowc0ast) on

SF Model Yacht Club WC

The San Francisco Model Yacht Club dates back to 1898 and is believed to be the oldest such organization in the United States. The City built the clubhouse in 1937, which contains one of the world's largest vintage free-sailing-model collections.

Polo Fields

The Golden Gate Park Stadium had a velodrome constructed for bike racing in 1906, which later became known as Polo Field.

A post shared by M.D. Walker (@m_p_e_a_) on

Portals of the Past at Lloyd Lake

When the 1906 Earthquake and Fire destroyed all of the A.N. Towne mansion, all that remained was the front entranceway. It was later removed and brought over to Golden Gate Park as a memorial to the disaster.

A post shared by Virg (@virgsf2) on

Pioneer Log Cabin

The Pioneer Log Cabin was built as a meeting house for the Association of Pioneer Women of California in 1911. It is constructed of unpeeled redwood logs from Humboldt County and was restored in 1995.

Stow Lake

Stow Lake is a manmade lake dating back to 1893, popular for its rental pedal boats, 10-foot artificial waterfall, Chinese pagoda, and rustic bridges.

Strybing Arboretum

Strybing Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a 55 acre site with more than 7,500 varieties of flora from across the world. It is the largest of its kind on the West Coast.

Japanese Tea Garden

The oldest public Japanese garden in the United States was originally created as a “Japanese Village” exhibit for the 1894 California Midwinter International Exposition. When the fair closed, Japanese landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara and superintendent John McLaren reached a gentleman’s agreement, allowing Mr. Hagiwara to create and maintain a permanent Japanese style garden as a gift for posterity.

Music Concourse

The main portion of San Francisco Landmark #249, the Spreckels Temple of Music was constructed in 1899 with money from sugar magnate Claus Spreckels and designed by the Reid Brothers.

A post shared by Herbert Ho (@dadahung) on

The Apple Cider Press

The bronze sculpture by Thomas Shields was on display during the Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. People think it's a monument to wine making, when it's actually depicting apple cider pressing.

Shakespeare Garden

Dating back to 1928, the Shakespeare Gardens incorporate plants and flowers mentioned within the works of William Shakespeare.

A post shared by Chris (@datzun280) on

Conservatory of Flowers

Since opening in 1879, the Victorian greenhouse and adjacent botanical gardens have survived earthquakes, fires, and years of neglect. Thanks to a $25 million restoration that took place between 1998 and 2003, the conservatory continues to captivate both botanists and architecture lovers alike, just as it did when it opened 135 years ago.

Photo by Patricia Chang

Conservatory of Flowers

As California Historical Landmark #841 and SF Landmark #50, conservatory was built in 1879 and has the honor of being California's first municipal greenhouse.

A post shared by Teri Cole (@cardgirl) on

Lawn Bowling Club

Formed in 1901, the Lawn Bowling Club is the oldest lawn bowling club in the United States. The clubhouse was added in 1915.

Sharon Art Studio

The Sharon Building as built in 1888 as a canteen for children and mothers visiting the Golden Gate Park Children's Quarters, and today operates as the Sharon Art Studio community art center.

Golden Gate Park Carousel

There have been three carousels since the children's playground opened in 1888, but the current one a 1914 version built by the Herschell-Spillman Company. The carousel appeared as one of the main sights at the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island. It was restored in 1984.

A post shared by Bill Selby (@billselby1) on

McLaren Lodge

SF Landmark #175 was built in 1896 built as the offices of the Park Commission, as well as the person home of the Park Superintendent, John McLaren for 47 years. Today the building serves as the headquarters of the Rec and Park Department.