Golden Gate Park Lakes
Unfinished History
This c. 1910 photo by Willard Worden shows an inter-dune pond in the future Sunset District. Before Golden Gate Park was developed, 14 native inter-dune lakes existed within the park's 1,013 acres. All of the native lakes were filled except the Chain of Lakes, and manmade bodies of water replaced the natural lakes.
Photo: Private Collection, San Francisco, CA
1876 map of western end of new Golden Gate Park, showing the original fresh water lakes east of sand ridges, one near the ocean, and the other that later was reconfigured into "Chain of Lakes" near 41st Avenue.
Map: courtesy David Rumsey collection
Eastern end of Golden Gate Park, 1876, with large-ish lake at site of the Sharon Children's Playground, later filled in. Original Big Four cemeteries visible at upper right.
Map: courtesy David Rumsey collection
Chain of Lakes near western end of Golden Gate Park, 2014.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Chain of Lakes with rustic bridge, c. 1897.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp15.1719
North Lake, Chain of Lakes, rustic bridge, two women posting on high bridge to island, c. 1900.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp27.2851
Woman posing on concrete rustic bridge, probably North Lake.
Photo: OpenSFHistory.org wnp37.03245
Spreckels Lake, home to the S.F. Model Yacht Club, 2014.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Elk Glen Lake, 2014.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
1893 bridge crossing Stow Lake to Strawberry Hill, 2014.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Stow Lake provides sanctuary to many different birds.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Stow Lake, 2014.
Photo: Chris Carlsson
Mallard Lake, with its namesake inhabitants.
Photos: Chris Carlsson
September 24, 2022
Chain o' Lakes, Golden Gate Park
Our first Walk n Talk Urban Forum of Fall 2022 season, started the north edge of the Northernmost of the Chain of Lakes in western Golden Gate Park. After traversing the width of the park we proceeded west and encounter a number of other stories related to trains, bicycles, feminism, shipwrecks and more!
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Chain o' Lakes view, 2022.
Photo: Chris Carlsson