Music Concourse facts for kids
The Spreckels Temple of Music is the focal point of one end of the Music Concourse. Heavily pollarded trees cover the oval-shaped bowl.
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| Location | Golden Gate Park in San Francisco |
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| Coordinates | 37°46′14″N 122°28′03″W / 37.7706°N 122.4675°W |
| Designated: | December 16, 2005 |
| Reference #: | 249 |
The Music Concourse is a large outdoor area in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It's shaped like an oval. On either side of this open space, you'll find two famous places: the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Academy of Sciences.
Contents
History of the Music Concourse
A Place for Music and Fun
The Music Concourse was first dug out for a big event called the California Midwinter International Exposition of 1894. This was like a world's fair held in 1894. After the fair, the area was changed a lot. It became a special place for public events, especially music concerts.
The Spreckels Bandshell
The main building in the plaza is the Spreckels Temple of Music. People also call it the "Bandshell". A rich sugar businessman named Claus Spreckels gave it to the city. It was built in 1899, just before the Music Concourse was finished in 1900.
The Bandshell has been damaged by earthquakes. This happened in 1906 and again in 1989. It has been repaired many times. Many famous performers have played there. These include Luciano Pavarotti and the Grateful Dead. For many years, it has hosted celebrations for the Polish Constitution.
Modern Updates and Landmarks
In the 2000s, the Music Concourse got a big makeover. New buildings were built for the two museums. An underground parking garage for 800 cars was also added. This garage opened in 2005. In December 2006, the Music Concourse became a San Francisco Designated Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place.
The SkyStar Wheel's Journey
The SkyStar Wheel is a giant Ferris wheel. It arrived in San Francisco on March 15, 2020. It was put together by March 21. It was meant to celebrate Golden Gate Park's 150th birthday. However, the celebration was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The observation wheel opened on October 21, 2020. It had a one-year agreement to stay. This agreement was later extended for another year. This helped the company make up for money lost during the pandemic. The SkyStar Wheel closed on October 22, 2023. It then moved to Fisherman's Wharf nearby.
Features of the Concourse
Fountains and Trees
You will see three fountains in the middle of the plaza. There is a fourth fountain at the top of a nearby staircase. Many trees are planted in neat rows around the plaza. Most of these trees are London plane and Scotch elm. They are trimmed in a special way called pollarding. This makes them look very neat and formal.
Statues and Monuments
Many statues are placed around the area. You can find statues of important figures. These include Leonidas, a Spartan king, and Ulysses S. Grant. There are also statues of famous musicians like Ludwig van Beethoven and Giuseppe Verdi. You can also see a statue of Junípero Serra.
At the end of the Music Concourse, opposite the Bandshell, is a monument to Francis Scott Key. He wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner." This monument was moved here in 1967.
Hidden Tunnels
Several tunnels for people lead into the main bowl area. These tunnels come from the areas around the Concourse.
Gallery
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The Concourse at the 1894 California Midwinter Exposition
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Leonidas, King of Sparta, who defeated the Persians at Thermopylae (it is often misidentified as a Roman gladiator) commemorates the excavation of the Music Concourse in 1893.
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The northern end of the Concourse after the most recent renovations, as seen from the de Young Museum in 2009.
See also
