Woodward's Gardens: Difference between revisions

Woodward's Gardens was a combination amusement park, museum, art gallery, zoo, and aquarium operating from 1866 to 1891 in the Mission District of San Francisco, California.

Woodward's Gardens was owned and operated by Robert B. Woodward (1824-1879), who became wealthy during the Gold Rush of 1849 and through his ownership the What Cheer House, a hotel and inn located near present-day Sacramento Street and Leidesdorff Alley in San Francisco. Woodward opened Woodward's Gardens on the site of his four-acre estate after moving to Sonoma County with his wife and four children.^[1]

The venue would attract up to 10,000 people on major holidays such as May Day. The facility lost popularity after Woodward's death in 1879, and finally closed in 1891. The family auctioned off the collection in 1894, much of it was purchased by San Francisco philanthopist Adolph Sutro. Some of the collection was displayed at Sutro's Sutro Baths in the early party of the 20th century.^[2]