Buena Vista Park
Encyclopedia
Buena Vista Park is a park
in the Haight-Ashbury and Buena Vista Heights neighborhoods of San Francisco, California
, United States
. It is the oldest official park in San Francisco, established in 1867 as Hill Park and renamed Buena Vista in 1894. It is bounded by Haight Street
to the north, and by Buena Vista Avenue West and Buena Vista Avenue East. The park is on a steep hill that peaks at 575 feet (175 m), and covers 37 acres (150,000 m²). The lowest section is the north end along Haight.
Muni
bus lines 6, 7, 43, 71, and 71L pass Buena Vista park on its north end along Haight St. The 37 line passes along the south end of the park. The 24 and 33 come within three blocks. The N Judah
runs through the Sunset Tunnel
, which is directly below the park.
At the peak of the park is a small lawn offering views to the east, north, and west, including the Golden Gate Bridge
and the Marin Headlands
. Other notable views are available from various lookouts lower down, including "The Window," an overlook on the western side of the hill from which there is a sweeping vista of Golden Gate Park, the Pacific Ocean, and, on clear days, northward up the coast to the white cliffs of Drake's Beach.
The paths along the west side are lined with gutters built by WPA
workers out of broken headstone
s from the City's Victorian cemeteries at Lone Mountain (i.e. Laurel Heights), which were moved to Colma
in 1930s. In a few cases the inscriptions were placed facing up and can be discerned (Cf. the Wave Organ
).
The northeast corner staircase features a large peace symbol
(the classic Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
variety) shaped out of flower plantings.
's Vertigo
. The building, constructed in 1928 as St. Joseph's Hospital, has been converted to condominiums. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places
.
The west side of the park near Frederick features a particular noteworthy example of the modern-architecture work of Cass Calder Smith
, as featured in many architectural magazines including Dwell magazine.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in the Haight-Ashbury and Buena Vista Heights neighborhoods of San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the oldest official park in San Francisco, established in 1867 as Hill Park and renamed Buena Vista in 1894. It is bounded by Haight Street
Haight Street
Haight Street, in San Francisco, is perhaps best known as the principal street in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, also known as Upper Haight. It stretches from Market Street to Stanyan Street, at Golden Gate Park. It is named after California pioneer and exchange banker Henry Haight ....
to the north, and by Buena Vista Avenue West and Buena Vista Avenue East. The park is on a steep hill that peaks at 575 feet (175 m), and covers 37 acres (150,000 m²). The lowest section is the north end along Haight.
Muni
San Francisco Municipal Railway
The San Francisco Municipal Railway is the public transit system for the city and county of San Francisco, California. In 2006, it served with an operating budget of about $700 million...
bus lines 6, 7, 43, 71, and 71L pass Buena Vista park on its north end along Haight St. The 37 line passes along the south end of the park. The 24 and 33 come within three blocks. The N Judah
N Judah
The N Judah is a Muni Metro line in San Francisco, California, so called as it runs along Judah Street for much of its length, named after railroad engineer Theodore Judah. It links downtown San Francisco to the Cole Valley and Sunset neighborhoods. It is the busiest line in the Muni Metro system...
runs through the Sunset Tunnel
Sunset Tunnel
The Sunset Tunnel is a tunnel in San Francisco, California, used by the N Judah Muni Metro line. It opened on 21 October 1928 in a ceremony presided over by Mayor James Rolph, and lies directly beneath Buena Vista Park and the steep hill that the park is located on. The western entrance to the...
, which is directly below the park.
Layout
The hill on which the park lies is composed primarily of sand and San Francisco chert, formed in the Mesozoic era. The layout of the park uses the steepness of the hill to good advantage, offering good views of the city (particularly to the north) as well as impressive natural beauty.At the peak of the park is a small lawn offering views to the east, north, and west, including the Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. As part of both U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1, the structure links the city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to...
and the Marin Headlands
Marin Headlands
The Marin Headlands is a hilly area at the southernmost end of Marin County, California, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Headlands are located just north of San Francisco, immediately across the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire area is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
. Other notable views are available from various lookouts lower down, including "The Window," an overlook on the western side of the hill from which there is a sweeping vista of Golden Gate Park, the Pacific Ocean, and, on clear days, northward up the coast to the white cliffs of Drake's Beach.
The paths along the west side are lined with gutters built by WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
workers out of broken headstone
Headstone
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a marker, usually stone, that is placed over a grave. In most cases they have the deceased's name, date of birth, and date of death inscribed on them, along with a personal message, or prayer.- Use :...
s from the City's Victorian cemeteries at Lone Mountain (i.e. Laurel Heights), which were moved to Colma
Colma, California
Colma is a small incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, at the northern end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 1,792 at the 2010 census. The town was founded as a necropolis in 1924....
in 1930s. In a few cases the inscriptions were placed facing up and can be discerned (Cf. the Wave Organ
Wave Organ
thumb|A binaural listening boothThe Wave Organ is an acoustic sculpture constructed on the shore of San Francisco Bay by the Exploratorium. Through a series of pipes, the wave organ interacts with the waves of the bay and conveys their sound to listeners at several different stations...
).
The northeast corner staircase features a large peace symbol
Peace symbol
A number of peace symbols have been used in various cultures and contexts, one of the most ancient being the olive branch. The dove and olive branch was used by early Christians and was later adopted as a secular symbol. It was popularised by Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the...
(the classic Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
variety) shaped out of flower plantings.
Other points of interest
Across the street from the south side of the park is 355 Buena Vista East, an architecturally notable building which appears briefly in Alfred HitchcockAlfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's Vertigo
Vertigo (film)
Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, and Barbara Bel Geddes. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A...
. The building, constructed in 1928 as St. Joseph's Hospital, has been converted to condominiums. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The west side of the park near Frederick features a particular noteworthy example of the modern-architecture work of Cass Calder Smith
Cass Calder Smith
Cass Calder Smith is an internationally recognized American architect. He and his firm, CCS Architecture are known for high-profile restaurant designs in San Francisco, California, and New York City.-Early life:...
, as featured in many architectural magazines including Dwell magazine.