Saint Mary's Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Mary's Square |
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The square in 2008
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Saint Mary's Square is a cool park and city square in San Francisco's Chinatown. It's right across California Street from Old St. Mary's Cathedral. This park is in the U.S. state of California.
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History of Saint Mary's Square
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Saint Mary's Square was designed in 1957 by Robert Royston. It's a special kind of park because it's built on top of a parking garage! Imagine a park on a roof.
Back then, building gardens on rooftops was a popular idea. Developers wanted to use every bit of space. Most of these rooftop gardens were on top of parking garages that were above ground.
But Saint Mary's Square was different. Its parking garage was built underground. The idea for the park on top came later. The park you see today was redesigned from an older park that was there before the underground garage was built.
How the Park Was Designed
Robert Royston's design used a system of grids and different shades of concrete. This helped to make the park's shape, which was set by the garage below, look more interesting.
He added low walls for sitting and curved plant beds. These features helped to divide the walking paths. They made the park feel more natural and peaceful.
You can get into the park from the street in two ways. There's a wide concrete staircase on one side. On the other side, you can walk right in at ground level.
Some old poplar trees were kept to create a nice background for the park. A statue of Sun Yat-sen by local artist Benny Bufano is a main attraction. The park also has a playground and a place to buy snacks.
Cool Things to See in the Park
Saint Mary's Square has several important features. These features are special to the Chinatown area. The park is a central gathering place for the community.
The Sun Yat-sen Statue
A large statue of Sun Yat-sen stands in St. Mary's Square. It was made by Beniamino Bufano. The statue is 14 feet tall and made of red granite and shiny stainless steel.
Sun Yat-sen was a very important person in Chinese history. He is known as the Father of the Chinese Republic. He was also the first president and founder of the Kuo Min Tang.
The statue has words carved into it. They say he was a "Champion of Democracy" and a "Lover of mankind." It also says he wanted "friendship and peace among the nations."
A Special Memorial Plaque
There is a special plaque in the park. It remembers Chinese-Americans who died fighting for America. These brave people gave their lives in World War I and World War II.
The plaque says, "We Salute these Americans of Chinese Ancestry who gave their lives for America in World Wars I and II." It reminds everyone of their sacrifice.
Other Interesting Spots
In March 2017, a gingko biloba tree was planted here. This tree honors Rose Pak, who was an important activist for Chinatown.
Saint Mary's Square also used to be the home of the Kong Chow Temple.
Images for kids
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Memorial plaque
