Yerba Buena Gardens
Encyclopedia
Yerba Buena Gardens is the name for two blocks of public parks located between Third and Fourth, Mission
and Folsom Streets in downtown San Francisco, California
. The first block bordered by Mission and Howard Streets was opened in 1993. The second block, between Howard and Folsom Streets was opened in 1998. A pedestrian bridge over Howard Street connects the two blocks, sitting on top of part of the Moscone Center
convention center. The Yerba Buena Gardens are owned by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and were planned and built as the centerpiece of the Yerba Buena Redevelopment Area.
Yerba Buena
was the name of the town in the Mexican
territory of Alta California
that became the city of San Francisco, California
, after it was claimed by the United States
in 1846.
memorial is located behind a waterfall, which is the largest fountain on the West Coast
. The memorial consists of large, etched
glass excerpts of King's speeches in the languages of San Francisco's sister cities. On the terrace level above the waterfall is the sister cities garden, where visitors can see an expertly manicured garden with plants representing each of San Francisco's sister cities, as well as a partial view of the downtown skyline.
Located in the Gardens proper are the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
, a contemporary arts center in the North block, and Zeum
, an award winning children's media and technology museum in the South block. An ice skating rink
, a bowling alley, and a restored 1905 carousel
originally located at Playland-at-the-Beach
can also be found in the South block. Eateries within the gardens include the B Restaurant and Grill and the Samovar Tea Lounge on the North block's terrace, Mo's Grill on the South block's upper walkway, and a snack shop by the carousel.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
is located across the street, the temporary home of the California Academy of Sciences
was less than a block away, and the Cartoon Art Museum
is nearby as well. The new location of the Museum of Craft and Folk Art (MOCFA) is less than one block towards Market, as is the brand new Museum of the African Diaspora
located in the St. Regis Museum tower. Currently being built across Mission St. are the Mexican Heritage Museum and the Contemporary Jewish Museum
.
Located within two blocks of Yerba Buena Gardens are many hotels, museums, and retail centers. The St. Regis Museum Tower
, W Hotel San Francisco
, San Francisco Marriott
, and Four Seasons are some of the largest hotels in the area. In addition, a new hotel, the InterContinental Hotel San Francisco
is under construction south of the Moscone Center
. Retail in the area include the Metreon
bordering the North block, and the Westfield San Francisco Centre
one block away in the old Emporium building, featuring San Francisco's first Bloomingdale's
.
Mission Street
Mission Street is a north-south arterial thoroughfare in San Francisco, California that runs from the city's southern border to its northeast corner. The street and the Mission District through which it runs were named for the Spanish Mission Dolores, several blocks away from the modern route. Only...
and Folsom Streets in downtown 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...
. The first block bordered by Mission and Howard Streets was opened in 1993. The second block, between Howard and Folsom Streets was opened in 1998. A pedestrian bridge over Howard Street connects the two blocks, sitting on top of part of the Moscone Center
Moscone Center
Moscone Center is the largest convention and exhibition complex in San Francisco, California. It comprises three main halls: Two underground halls underneath Yerba Buena Gardens, known as Moscone North and Moscone South, and a three-level Moscone West exhibition hall across 4th Street...
convention center. The Yerba Buena Gardens are owned by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and were planned and built as the centerpiece of the Yerba Buena Redevelopment Area.
Yerba Buena
Yerba Buena (town)
Yerba Buena was the original name of San Francisco when in the Spanish Las Californias Province of New Spain, and then after 1822 in the Mexican territory of Alta California, until the Mexican American War ended with the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, when California became a territory of the...
was the name of the town in the Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
territory of Alta California
Alta California
Alta California was a province and territory in the Viceroyalty of New Spain and later a territory and department in independent Mexico. The territory was created in 1769 out of the northern part of the former province of Las Californias, and consisted of the modern American states of California,...
that became the city 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...
, after it was claimed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1846.
Public art
The original block opened in 1993 contains several public art installations. The Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
memorial is located behind a waterfall, which is the largest fountain on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. The memorial consists of large, etched
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
glass excerpts of King's speeches in the languages of San Francisco's sister cities. On the terrace level above the waterfall is the sister cities garden, where visitors can see an expertly manicured garden with plants representing each of San Francisco's sister cities, as well as a partial view of the downtown skyline.
Other attractions
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is a multi-disiplinary contemporary arts center in San Francisco, California, United States. Located in Yerba Buena Gardens, YBCA features visual art, performance, and film/video that celebrates local, national, and international artists and the Bay Area's diverse...
, a contemporary arts center in the North block, and Zeum
Zeum
Zeum: San Francisco's Children's Museum is a hands-on, multimedia arts and technology museum for kids of all ages located at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, California. It aims to nurture the "3Cs of 21st-century literacy - Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication - in all youth and...
, an award winning children's media and technology museum in the South block. An ice skating rink
Ice rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
, a bowling alley, and a restored 1905 carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
originally located at Playland-at-the-Beach
Playland (San Francisco)
Playland was a seaside amusement park located next to Ocean Beach at the western edge of San Francisco, California along the Great Highway where Cabrillo and Balboa streets are now...
can also be found in the South block. Eateries within the gardens include the B Restaurant and Grill and the Samovar Tea Lounge on the North block's terrace, Mo's Grill on the South block's upper walkway, and a snack shop by the carousel.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
is located across the street, the temporary home of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
was less than a block away, and the Cartoon Art Museum
Cartoon Art Museum
The Cartoon Art Museum is a California art museum that specializes in the art of comics and cartoons. It is the only museum in the Western United States dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of all forms of cartoon art...
is nearby as well. The new location of the Museum of Craft and Folk Art (MOCFA) is less than one block towards Market, as is the brand new Museum of the African Diaspora
Museum of the African Diaspora
The Museum of the African Diaspora is a new museum in San Francisco, California, USA, dedicated to the diasporan histories of people of African origin and their influence and adaptation throughout the world....
located in the St. Regis Museum tower. Currently being built across Mission St. are the Mexican Heritage Museum and the Contemporary Jewish Museum
Contemporary Jewish Museum
The Contemporary Jewish Museum was founded in 1984 in San Francisco, California, with the goal of offering contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art, and ideas...
.
Located within two blocks of Yerba Buena Gardens are many hotels, museums, and retail centers. The St. Regis Museum Tower
St. Regis Museum Tower
St. Regis Museum Tower is a highrise in the South of Market district of San Francisco, California, adjacent to Yerba Buena Gardens, Moscone Center, PacBell Building and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The 42-storey, tower is bounded by Mission Street, 3rd Streets and is operated by...
, W Hotel San Francisco
W Hotel San Francisco
W San Francisco is a 33 floor, highrise luxury boutique hotel in San Francisco, California located next to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and across from Moscone Center. The tower was constructed by Webcor Builders and opened in 1999. The building was the tallest concrete-framed structure...
, San Francisco Marriott
San Francisco Marriott
The San Francisco Marriott Marquis is a 39-story skyscraper in the Financial District of San Francisco, California. Situated at the intersection of Fourth and Mission Streets, across from the Sony Metreon and Moscone Convention Center, the building is recognizable by the distinctive postmodern...
, and Four Seasons are some of the largest hotels in the area. In addition, a new hotel, the InterContinental Hotel San Francisco
InterContinental Hotel San Francisco
The InterContinental San Francisco is a high-rise hotel at 888 Howard Street in the financial district of San Francisco, California. The 32-story hotel has 550 hotel rooms, and is operated by the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotel is next to the Moscone West Center, completed in 2003. The...
is under construction south of the Moscone Center
Moscone Center
Moscone Center is the largest convention and exhibition complex in San Francisco, California. It comprises three main halls: Two underground halls underneath Yerba Buena Gardens, known as Moscone North and Moscone South, and a three-level Moscone West exhibition hall across 4th Street...
. Retail in the area include the Metreon
Metreon
The Metreon is a shopping center located in downtown San Francisco at the corner of 4th Street and Mission Street. It is a four-story 350,000 square foot building built over the corner of the underground Moscone Center convention center...
bordering the North block, and the Westfield San Francisco Centre
Westfield San Francisco Centre
Westfield San Francisco Centre is an upscale, urban shopping center located in San Francisco, California, managed by the Westfield Group and co-owned by Westfield and Forest City Enterprises. It is anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's, and includes a Century Theatres multiplex, a Bristol...
one block away in the old Emporium building, featuring San Francisco's first Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is an American department store owned by Macy's, Inc. .Bloomingdale's started in 1861 when brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale started selling hoop-skirts in their Ladies Notions' Shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
.
See also
- Moscone CenterMoscone CenterMoscone Center is the largest convention and exhibition complex in San Francisco, California. It comprises three main halls: Two underground halls underneath Yerba Buena Gardens, known as Moscone North and Moscone South, and a three-level Moscone West exhibition hall across 4th Street...
- South of Market, San Francisco, CaliforniaSouth of Market, San Francisco, CaliforniaSouth of Market is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States.-Name and location:Its boundaries are Market Street to the northwest, San Francisco Bay to the northeast, Mission Creek to the southeast, and Division Street, 13th Street and U.S. Route 101 to the southwest...