Windmills have been an iconic feature of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California, for over a century. Here is a brief history of the windmills in Golden Gate Park.
Dutch Windmill
The Dutch Windmill, the larger of the two windmills in the park, was built in 1902 at the western edge of the park. The windmill was constructed as a way to pump water from underground wells to irrigate the park’s many gardens and green spaces. The windmill was designed by Frederick W. Payne and modeled after the famous windmills of the Netherlands. It stands at 75 feet tall and has four sails that measure 102 feet across.
Murphy Windmill
The Murphy Windmill, the smaller of the two windmills in the park, was built in 1908 at the eastern edge of the park. It was also used to pump water for irrigation purposes. The windmill was designed by William Mooser III and named after Samuel G. Murphy, a prominent San Francisco businessman who donated funds for its construction. The Murphy Windmill stands at 64 feet tall and has four sails that measure 102 feet across.
Both windmills were in operation for several decades, but by the mid-20th century, they had fallen into disrepair and were no longer used to pump water. In the 1980s, the city of San Francisco launched a restoration project to bring the windmills back to their former glory. The Dutch Windmill was fully restored in 1981, and the Murphy Windmill was restored in 2012.
