Lloyd Lake (San Francisco) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lloyd Lake
Lloyd Lake Location in California Show map of California Lloyd Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California
Coordinates	37°46′13″N 122°28′56″W / 37.77028°N 122.48222°W / 37.77028; -122.48222
Basin countries	United States

Lloyd Lake is a beautiful small lake located in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is also known by other names like Mirror Lake or Kissane Lake. The lake was named to honor Reuben Hedley Lloyd, who was a park commissioner.

This lake is special because it has a clay lining. It is also home to many different kinds of birds. These birds are not native to the area, and they do not migrate. You can often see geese, Pekin ducks, Muscovy ducks, Campbell ducks, mallards, gulls, and pigeons enjoying the water.

A Piece of San Francisco History

Lloyd Lake holds a unique piece of San Francisco's past. You can find the remains of a grand house that once belonged to Alban Nelson Towne. This house was located on California Street in the Nob Hill area.

The 1906 Earthquake and "Portals to the Past"

In 1906, a huge earthquake and fire hit San Francisco. This disaster badly damaged many buildings, including Towne's mansion. After the earthquake, his wife decided to donate a special part of their home to Golden Gate Park.

In 1909, this gift was placed by Lloyd Lake. It is known as the "Portals to the Past." Today, all that remains of the large mansion are its beautiful stone columns. These columns once formed the entrance to the house. Now, they stand alone by the lake, reminding everyone of the city's history.