Lincoln Park (San Francisco) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lincoln Park |
|
|---|---|
Pathway at Lincoln Park Golf Course, San Francisco
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Type | Municipal (San Francisco) |
| Location | San Francisco |
| Area | 100 acres (0.40 km2; 0.16 sq mi) |
| Created | 1909 |
| Status | Open all year |
Lincoln Park is a cool park located in San Francisco, California. It was named after President Abraham Lincoln in 1909. This park covers about 100 acres (0.4 km2) of land in the northwest part of the San Francisco Peninsula. Lincoln Park is also super important because it's the very end of the Lincoln Highway. The Lincoln Highway was the first road that went all the way across the USA!
Contents
Exploring Lincoln Park's Past
How Lincoln Park Began
The land where Lincoln Park now stands used to be a city burial ground. It was called the Golden Gate Cemetery. This cemetery was started in 1868. About 10,000 people were buried there. It even had a special area for Chinese burials. There was also a section for people who couldn't afford a regular burial.
From Cemetery to Golf Course
In 1902, some people who loved golf decided to create a small course. They built a three-hole golf course on part of the cemetery land. A few years later, in 1909, the city decided to turn the land into a park. The process of moving the cemetery began. The golf course kept growing! By 1914, it had 14 holes. Then, in 1917, it became a full 18-hole course. During this time, about 50 acres (200,000 m2) of the land was given to the U.S. government. This land was added to the nearby Fort Miley Military Reservation.
The Famous Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway is a really important part of American history. It was planned in 1913. This highway was the first road to stretch from one side of America to the other. It crossed 14 states! The western end of this huge road was right here at Lincoln Park.
Where to Find the Highway Marker
The original marker for the western end of the Lincoln Highway was in front of the Legion of Honor building. Today, you can see a copy of this marker. There's also a special sign that tells its story. You can find them at the southwest corner of the plaza. They are right next to the bus stop. This replica marker was put there in 2002. It was placed by the California Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association.
Other Important Landmarks
In 1923, Lincoln Park was chosen as the location for the California Palace of the Legion of Honor. This is a beautiful art museum. Later, in 1984, the San Francisco Holocaust Memorial was placed in the park. It was designed by an artist named George Segal.
