RON HENGGELER

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone Headdress

Detail of the area near my front door

Sunrise from my window

Sunrise from my window

Goslings in Golden Gate Park

Huntington Falls on Strawberry Hill Golden Gate Park

The first artificial waterfall installed in Golden Gate Park was Huntington Falls, which cascades down the length of Strawberry Hill, and spills into Stow Lake. It was former Park Superintendent John McLaren who came up with the plan to incorporate artificial lakes and waterways into a once-sandy landscape. McLaren became inspired to include waterfalls in Golden Gate Park during a hike in the Sierras with naturalist John Muir. Despite the critics, Huntington Falls was his first project (and a successful one) – named after Collis P. Huntington, one of the Big Four railroad barons, who donated $25,000 to the cause.

Baby owls on Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park

St. Ignatius Church as seen from Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park

Huntington Falls on Strawberry Hill in Golden Gate Park

From a barren 1000 acres of sand, John McLaren created a verdant city park complete with lakes and waterfalls.

Despite critics who charged that water would seep through the sand, McLaren persisted in his efforts to create artificial lakes and waterways. Holes were dug, loads of clay carted in and windmills built to pull water up from natural wells.

Early in the park’s development, it is said, McLaren accompanied John Muir on a hike in the Sierras. Muir pointed to a waterfall and declared that McLaren had nothing like that in his park. McLaren replied, “But we will have.”

Thus inspired, McLaren began construction of what some still say is his most dramatic achievement in the park: Huntington Falls. It was named after Collis P. Huntington, one of the Big Four railroad barons, who contributed $25,000 for the project.

Today, more than 100 years later, Huntington Falls continues to cascade down from the top of Strawberry Hill into Stow Lake.

Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park

Music Concourse Bandshell in Golden Gate Park

Flamenco preformance at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

Detail of a painting at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park

The night sky in Golden Gate Park