FRIENDS OF THE MUSIC CONCOURSE
History and Current Condition of the Music Concourse
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The Music Concourse - a Beloved Part of San Francisco's History

The Music Concourse as we know it today was built in 1900, when Claus Spreckels gave his Temple of Music to the people of San Francisco. Hundreds of trees were planted in a grid pattern in the Bowl to provide shade for the concert-goers. At the dedication, one of the speakers referred to the tree grid and how future generations of San Franciscans would enjoy music under "these trees in their age and decrepitude as now in their early growth."

LANDMARKS APPLICATION
The Music Concourse has been a significant outdoor performance space that is important to San Francisco's history. According to the Landmarks application prepared by architectural historian William Kostura, "...the Music Concourse has significance at the local level as an outdoor performance space and for its association with the Park Band...for most of the twentieth centery the Concourse was one of several free cultural attractions in this part of Golden Gate Park...the Music concourse, then, represents important themes in San Francisco's cultural history."

In addition, Kostura states, "...the Music Concourse has significance at the national level as a late nineteenth century and early twentieth century urban park landscape. The landscape is an unusually complex one, with a musical performance space, dual circulation systems (for vehicles and pedestrians), trees, and many commemorative monuments. The aesthetic quality of the place is very high... Very few urban park landscape in the United States are this complex, have this level of quality, and retain this degree of integrity."

"The integrity of the district is very high. The major elements - the concourse bowl, the Temple of Music, the London plane trees, the benches, the staircases, the paths, and strets, the pedestrian tunnels, the fountains, the monuments - all survive, with remarkabley few modern intrusions." [Please note: there are elm trees and a few other species in the Bowl, which Kostura mentions elsewhere; in addition, the tunnels have now been destroyed by the present construction but are scheduled to be replaced.]

HISTORIC TREES

The historic trees are now mature. Over the years, trees have been lost due to lack of funding for specialized maintenance, vehicular damage during public events and other accidents. These trees need careful monitoring and maintenance that is threatened by our current budget cuts.

In addition, this should be a full grid, but it is missing many trees. As part of the Surface Improvements Project, the City is going to replant many of the missing trees, as described in the Golden Gate Park Master Plan. Friends of the Music Concourse is also advocating for replacement of the missing trees in front of the Bandshell. This tree grid provides shade for concert-goers on sunny days as well as protection from our rolling fogs.

Some historical Concourse structures have been lost forever due to the current construction. However, the remaining elements, such as the fountains, bandshell, and decomposed granite walking surface must be preserved and maintained. New benches are needed to replace the existing site furniture.

The character of the Bowl is formed with all of these historic features. They are an integral part of the cherished memories of visitors from all over the world.

OUR GOALS

Friends of the Music Concourse has been organized so that we can share information and work with the citizens of San Francisco and the staff of the involved City Departments to participate in preserving the remaining historical character of the Music Concourse.

To read the full application by William Kostura, type in: http://www.sfpix.com/landmark(space) images/index.html

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The name Friends of the Music Concourse, all text, and all photos are Copyright 2004, 2005 and 2006 by K. Howard unless otherwise noted. Please contact us if you would like to use our information or photos for tree or historic preservation.